skilled

adjective

ˈskild How to pronounce skilled (audio)
Definition of skillednext
as in skillful
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor a delicate brain operation requiring the services of a highly skilled surgeon

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word skilled distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of skilled are adept, expert, proficient, and skillful. While all these words mean "having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession," skilled stresses mastery of technique.

a skilled surgeon

When might adept be a better fit than skilled?

The synonyms adept and skilled are sometimes interchangeable, but adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency.

adept at doing long division

When can expert be used instead of skilled?

The meanings of expert and skilled largely overlap; however, expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill.

expert in the evaluation of wines

When is it sensible to use proficient instead of skilled?

In some situations, the words proficient and skilled are roughly equivalent. However, proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice.

proficient in translating foreign languages

When could skillful be used to replace skilled?

While in some cases nearly identical to skilled, skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance.

skillful drivers

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 skilled Soto also has two skilled center fielders playing next to him in Jose Siri and Tyrone Taylor, who split time at the spot. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2025 However, even the most skilled clinicians can struggle if the technology is difficult to use. —Jiang Li, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025 At Vi at Aventura, independent living comes with access to on-site assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation, should it ever be needed. —Vi At Aventura, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025 The company plans to address these issues by recruiting skilled accounting personnel. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for skilled
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skilled
  1. skillful
  2. adept
  3. proficient
  4. experienced
  5. expert
  6. practiced
Adjective
  • Elegant materials, bespoke furnishings, skillful layering of textures, and eye-catching lighting are all hallmarks of Hogarty’s soulful spaces, and the firm seeks to create an emotional response with its polished yet comfortable aesthetic.
    — Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Hiring managers must learn to distinguish between misuse and skillful application to capture a candidate’s ability to tackle real-world challenges.
    — Bing Yu Yap, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of skillful
Adjective
  • This new species, found near the summit, is adept at moving through trees and has bright blue skin visible only when inflated.
    — Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Monetary easing by central banks can mitigate the damage, and businesses are adept at restructuring supply chains to pass on costs.
    — Robert Ginsburg, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of adept
Adjective
  • Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Superintendent Theresa Plascencia is paid $345,000 a year, presiding over schools where just 16% of students are proficient in reading.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Only around one-third of students are proficient in these foundational skills needed to succeed in today's economy.
    — Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of proficient
Adjective
  • Be open and willing to start conversations with more experienced employees.
    — Julia Sullivan, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
  • An estimated 14% of those who took the highest dose experienced vomiting, while 16% and 26% had nausea and diarrhea, respectively.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of experienced
Adjective
  • Art Weston, a Kentucky resident, went to Lake Livingston, Texas, to catch an alligator gar with the help of an expert guide and fisherman, Captain Kirk Kirkland.
    — Ashley J. DiMella Fox News, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of expert
Adjective
  • Oceanfront Royal Suite + Star Prestige: Top-Tier Taste, Tailored to You For travelers with a practiced palate and a preference for the top tier, JOIA Aruba’s Oceanfront Royal Suite hits every high note.
    — Ashlee Marie Preston, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The Olduvai Gorge bones, however, don’t appear to have been shaped at random, but instead display a uniformity indicating a practiced methodology and strategy.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of practiced

Browse Nearby Words

skill
skilled
skillful
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Cite this Entry

“Skilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skilled. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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