skill

noun

ˈskil How to pronounce skill (audio)
Definition of skillnext
1
as in skillfulness
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something with unbelievable skill, the expert in origami transformed a few sheets of paper into a menagerie of exotic animals

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in expertise
skills plural knowledge gained by actually doing or living through something he had acquired valuable skills during his life at sea

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun skill contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of skill are artifice, art, craft, and cunning. While all these words mean "the faculty of executing well what one has devised," skill stresses technical knowledge and proficiency.

the skill of a glassblower

When could art be used to replace skill?

While in some cases nearly identical to skill, art implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power.

the art of choosing the right word

In what contexts can artifice take the place of skill?

While the synonyms artifice and skill are close in meaning, artifice suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature.

believed realism in film could be achieved only by artifice

When might craft be a better fit than skill?

The words craft and skill can be used in similar contexts, but craft may imply expertness in workmanship.

the craft of a master goldsmith

When is cunning a more appropriate choice than skill?

The synonyms cunning and skill are sometimes interchangeable, but cunning suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing.

a mystery plotted with great cunning

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of skill Classes range from beginner-friendly lessons, like learning how to use a machine, to teaching intermediate skills, like hemming pants or installing a zipper. — Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026 Op de Beeck lauds it as an icon of midcentury design analogous to an Eames chair, and the product of exacting skill and patience. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026 Brits had won World War II, with pluck and skill, but were losing their empire. — Scott Simon, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026 Longtime journalist, host and media personality Keltie Knight will be flexing her Emmy Award winning skills for Alta. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for skill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skill
  1. skillfulness
  2. expertise
  3. cunning
  4. experience
  5. proficiency
  6. art
  7. artistry
  8. talent
Noun
  • After taking over hosting duties from Padma Lakshmi in season 21, Kish is now the undeniable face of the series, one that represents the continuously evolving future of its programming, which prioritizes culinary skillfulness.
    — McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 21 June 2026
Definition of skillfulness
Noun
  • The authentication process combines human expertise and AI integration to flag any suspicious activity and ensure that listings follow commercial industry standards.
    — Sophie Lou Wilson, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Complex missions require expertise in everything from AI and autonomy to advanced materials and thermal design to work together.
    — Dr. Najwa Aaraj, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of expertise
Noun
  • Lethally charming and a natural chameleon, Conal uses social cunning and ruthlessness to get the job done and always gets a thrill out of completing a mission.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Since the second Inauguration, the Trumps and their satraps have operated with all the commercial cunning of the Corleone family; the White House is their front, their Genco Pura Olive Oil Company.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of cunning
Noun
  • Serving as president since 2024—just months after the team was first created—Smith has helped build the franchise from the ground up, overseeing everything from its business operations to the fan experience.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Brown, Gibbs argued, has the experience necessary to represent rural Ohioans at the federal level.
    — Saige Miller, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of experience
Noun
  • In the 1960s and ’70s, Mexican women with limited English proficiency were forcibly sterilized at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, leading to a civil rights lawsuit that was decided in favor of the center.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Aside from his mobility/ability to escape pressure and his proficiency in throwing on the run (two very valuable skills), Willis hasn’t done anything else at even an average level of what’s expected from a franchise quarterback.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of proficiency
Noun
  • In Minor Black Figures, Taylor casts a sharp gaze on the New York art scene through the eyes of Wyeth, a young Black painter caught in the throes of creative struggle.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • During the first weekend of every month, certain cardholders can experience art, culture and history at no cost.
    — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado Updated October 26, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of art
Noun
  • Supporting this remarkable local treasure offers a rare chance to experience authentic culinary artistry from a true master.
    — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Larry Kramer nabbed an Oscar nomination for his screenplay here, long before his legendary activism, and Glenda Jackson took home the Best Actress trophy — before also blazing a career fearless in politics and artistry.
    — Juan A. Ramírez, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of artistry
Noun
  • Koenig died Monday at his home in the North Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, talent agent Zachery McGinnis said in a statement.
    — JONATHAN LANDRUM JR. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Maybe talents like Misiorowski and Caminero and Chourio only come around once every couple decades.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of talent

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skiffs
skill
skilled
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Cite this Entry

“Skill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skill. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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