skilled
adjective
ˈskild 
1
: having acquired mastery of or skill in something (such as a technique or a trade)
skilled in the art of negotiation
2
: of, relating to, or requiring workers or labor with skill and training in a particular occupation, craft, or trade
Synonyms
- accomplished
- ace
- adept
- compleat
- complete
- consummate
- crack
- crackerjack
- educated
- experienced
- expert
- good
- great
- master
- masterful
- masterly
- practiced
- practised
- professed
- proficient
- skillful
- versed
- veteran
- virtuoso
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a very skilled and talented writer He is skilled at cooking. Carpentry is a skilled trade.
Recent Examples on the Web The Republicans whom Walker refused to debate ahead of Georgia’s primary critiqued him as ill-prepared to take on Warnock, a skilled orator. 
Meg Kinnard, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Sep. 2022 The skilled likes of Peggy Roeder and Leah Morrow are also on hand. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 Ryan Gosling as a skilled spy, Chris Evans as a lunatic villain, big-budget action set pieces and Ana de Armas, to name a few. Carson Burton, Variety, 8 Sep. 2022 This skilled foot and ankle surgeon, however, participated in a contentious meeting in late 2014 about Baribeau with top doctors and administrators and recommended that a neutral third party be brought in to help bring the crisis to an end. BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 That change means the company can spend less on salaries for some roles and ensures that skilled staff can focus on complex tasks as the company grows, people close to the company said. Sarah Krouse, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 Like all volunteers, Nesbitt doesn't take the place of the skilled chefs. Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 Rehab centers and skilled nursing facilities have been hit by the same staffing issues and resulting shortage of beds. oregonlive, 3 Sep. 2022 This led to producing the country’s skilled blacksmiths, welders and metal workers, including those who created swords for knights. Essence, 2 Sep. 2022 See More
Meg Kinnard, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Sep. 2022 The skilled likes of Peggy Roeder and Leah Morrow are also on hand. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 Ryan Gosling as a skilled spy, Chris Evans as a lunatic villain, big-budget action set pieces and Ana de Armas, to name a few. Carson Burton, Variety, 8 Sep. 2022 This skilled foot and ankle surgeon, however, participated in a contentious meeting in late 2014 about Baribeau with top doctors and administrators and recommended that a neutral third party be brought in to help bring the crisis to an end. BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 That change means the company can spend less on salaries for some roles and ensures that skilled staff can focus on complex tasks as the company grows, people close to the company said. Sarah Krouse, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 Like all volunteers, Nesbitt doesn't take the place of the skilled chefs. Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 Rehab centers and skilled nursing facilities have been hit by the same staffing issues and resulting shortage of beds. oregonlive, 3 Sep. 2022 This led to producing the country’s skilled blacksmiths, welders and metal workers, including those who created swords for knights. Essence, 2 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
skilled
adjective
ˈskild
1
: having skill
a skilled mason
2
: requiring skill and training
a skilled trade
skilled
adjective
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
Relevance
- skillful
- adept
- proficient
- experienced
- expert
- talented
- practiced
- educated
- accomplished
- good
- master
- gifted
- veteran
- virtuoso
- versed
- masterful
- great
- capable
- competent
- trained
- consummate
- qualified
- professed
- masterly
- employable
- complete
- ace
- crackerjack
- practised
- crack
- adroit
- efficient
- dexterous
- compleat
- effective
- deft
- knowledgeable
- clever
- polished
- able
- handy
- taught
- old
- dextrous
- schooled
- slick
- refined
- workmanlike
- sure-handed
- fitted
- effectual
- multiskilled
- tutored
- fit
- well-rounded
- habile
- multitalented
- all-round
- all-around
- long-term
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unskilled
- inexperienced
- amateur
- incompetent
- inexpert
- incapable
- unable
- inept
- unqualified
- weak
- unseasoned
- unskillful
- amateurish
- unprofessional
- unfit
- unfitted
- crude
- inefficient
- inexperienced
- artless
- ineffective
- untrained
- rude
- ineffectual
- untalented
- ignorant
- jackleg
- new
- unschooled
- untutored
- untaught
- beginning
- raw
- green
- primitive
- unseasoned
- ungifted
- talentless
- untried
- clumsy
- unpolished
- rough
- awkward
- untested
- would-be
- ham-fisted
- ham-handed
- heavy-handed
Synonym Chooser
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
The synonyms adept and skilled are sometimes interchangeable, but adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency.
adept at doing long division
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
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
While in some cases nearly identical to skilled, skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance.
skillful drivers