1
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability
a masterful performance of a difficult piece for the violin
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
a masterful coworker who liked to tell other people how to do their jobs
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3
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
a masterful businesswoman who didn't hesitate to step on a lot of people as she climbed the ladder of success
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in skillful
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor
a president who was celebrated as a masterful communicator of his administration's policies
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of masterful
Haliburton was masterful: dictating play, relentlessly dishing out assists and making big shots when needed.
—
Matias Grez, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
Befitting that, the entire Panthers’ depth chart is producing in these playoffs, the goals coming from all over the roster, all over the ice, as steady Sergei Bobrovsky protects the Cats’ net in a masterful ‘Playoff Bob’ sequel.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
For his part, Kendrick wasted no opportunity to double down on the stage presence and masterful camera work that captivated the live audience and at-home viewers of 2024’s Juneteenth concert, Ken & Friends – the Pop Out as well as the Superbowl in New Orleans earlier this year.
—Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025
Elie’s masterful survey is a group portrait of artists and their fellow travelers who participated during a bloody crossroads in American life, when Ronald Reagan’s ascension to the White House in 1980 collapsed the walls between church and state, sparking a counterrevolution across the arts.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for masterful
Matias Grez, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
Befitting that, the entire Panthers’ depth chart is producing in these playoffs, the goals coming from all over the roster, all over the ice, as steady Sergei Bobrovsky protects the Cats’ net in a masterful ‘Playoff Bob’ sequel.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
For his part, Kendrick wasted no opportunity to double down on the stage presence and masterful camera work that captivated the live audience and at-home viewers of 2024’s Juneteenth concert, Ken & Friends – the Pop Out as well as the Superbowl in New Orleans earlier this year.
—Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025
Elie’s masterful survey is a group portrait of artists and their fellow travelers who participated during a bloody crossroads in American life, when Ronald Reagan’s ascension to the White House in 1980 collapsed the walls between church and state, sparking a counterrevolution across the arts.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for masterful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterful
Adjective
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But this one rush job, HB 1205, was especially dear to the governor’s authoritarian heart.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 May 2025
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Panahi’s film, his first since being released from prison in 2023, is a direct assault on Iran’s authoritarian regime.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
Richard was known for being outspoken, if not arrogant, consistently rubbing his Tagi tribe the wrong way and offending some of them with his blatant display of nudity on the island.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
27 May 2025
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Multiple people described him to me as unpopular and arrogant.—
Amanda Chicago Lewis,
Harpers Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Several would require the skillful balancing of adverse political interests, including labor unions, real estate companies and pro-tenant groups.—
Mihir Zaveri,
New York Times,
1 June 2025
-
In short, this is about being emotionally skillful and multifaceted.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
Consult a tax attorney or expert financial advisor for more information and tailored advice.—
True Tamplin,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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Melanie also consulted Kristie Rhodes, manager of woven product development at Cotton Incorporated, for expert insight.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
29 May 2025
Adjective
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Randall is a rebellious new patient at a mental institution who does battle with Louise Fletcher’s domineering head nurse Mildred Ratched.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
20 May 2025
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The trial had revealed Blue Cross’ domineering behavior.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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While the screen compares surprisingly well with the Steam Deck OLED, the Steam Deck supports HDR in addition to the superior OLED panel, which the Legion Go S does not.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
7 June 2025
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If quality depth is the standard, the Big 12 is superior to the ACC.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
Humanoid robots are physically fluently adept before AGI is attained.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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His script may go over the top, and a generally adept cast (which also includes prominent parts for Sinbad, Rockmond Dunbar, Shalet Monique and others) copes variably with its excesses.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Managing it all behind the scenes is Artistic Director Giovanna Sardelli, who served as the theater company’s director of new works for nearly a decade before taking on the artistic director role in 2023.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
6 June 2025
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Hailing from Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel creator Sherman-Palladino, Étoile starred Luke Kirby (who played Lenny Bruce on Mrs. Maisel) as Jack McMillan, the artistic director of a prestigious New York ballet company.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Masterful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterful. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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