skillful
adjective
skill·ful ˈskil-fəl 
1
: possessed of or displaying skill : expert
a skillful chef
2
: accomplished with skill
a skillful treatment
skillfully
ˈskil-fə-lē
adverb skillfulness noun
Synonyms
- adroit
- artful
- bravura
- deft
- delicate
- dexterous
- dextrous
- expert
- masterful
- masterly
- practiced
- practised
- virtuoso
- workmanlike
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He is skillful at diplomacy. an artist skillful in the use of color the skillful manner in which the doctor and nurses treated the patient These issues require skillful handling.
Recent Examples on the Web The Penguin edition of the complete Maigret valiantly aims to update previously uneven translations through the skillful efforts of such worthies as David Bellos, Linda Coverdale, and Howard Curtis. 
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022 The strong currents near Key West challenged even the most skillful captains; shipwrecks were commonplace. Erinne Magee, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Avon could look to re-establish its run game with skillful junior Jakorion Caffey, who rushed for 34 yards against the Tarblooders. Matt Goul, cleveland, 7 Sep. 2022 Hazy synthesizers and Auto-Tune color much of the song with John’s skillful piano most prominent during the coda. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2022 Lee is one of the best-selling singer-songwriters of Brazil, known for her skillful blend of pop balladry, MPB, bossa and new wave. Thania Garcia, Variety, 25 Aug. 2022 The most skillful artists bring discussion and debate to important, timeless topics through their work, contributing to resale value. Steven Sulley, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 His skillful handling of the transfer of power to Corazon Aquino in the Philippines earned praise, and Shultz worked diligently to strengthen a then-tense relationship with Japan while completing normalization of our relationship with China. Jeremy Carl, Washington Examiner, 11 Feb. 2021 The score, which includes skillful vocal writing, is tuneful but conventional; the comic and serious elements don’t quite jell. Heidi Waleson, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 See More
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022 The strong currents near Key West challenged even the most skillful captains; shipwrecks were commonplace. Erinne Magee, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Avon could look to re-establish its run game with skillful junior Jakorion Caffey, who rushed for 34 yards against the Tarblooders. Matt Goul, cleveland, 7 Sep. 2022 Hazy synthesizers and Auto-Tune color much of the song with John’s skillful piano most prominent during the coda. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2022 Lee is one of the best-selling singer-songwriters of Brazil, known for her skillful blend of pop balladry, MPB, bossa and new wave. Thania Garcia, Variety, 25 Aug. 2022 The most skillful artists bring discussion and debate to important, timeless topics through their work, contributing to resale value. Steven Sulley, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 His skillful handling of the transfer of power to Corazon Aquino in the Philippines earned praise, and Shultz worked diligently to strengthen a then-tense relationship with Japan while completing normalization of our relationship with China. Jeremy Carl, Washington Examiner, 11 Feb. 2021 The score, which includes skillful vocal writing, is tuneful but conventional; the comic and serious elements don’t quite jell. Heidi Waleson, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
skillful
adjective
skill·ful ˈskil-fəl
1
: having or showing ability : expert
a skillful gardener
2
: done or made with ability
a skillful dive
skillful
adjective
1
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability the ice skater performed a skillful and graceful series of jumps Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- virtuoso
- masterful
- adroit
- artful
- deft
- expert
- dexterous
- artistic
- delicate
- smooth
- masterly
- dextrous
- workmanlike
- bravura
- practiced
- adept
- creative
- cunning
- clever
- practised
- ingenious
- competent
- capable
- facile
- adequate
- neat
- fancy
- able
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- amateur
- artless
- unskillful
- clumsy
- amateurish
- crude
- unprofessional
- rude
- ineffective
- incompetent
- awkward
- ineffectual
- inept
- klutzy
2
as in skilled
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor performance testing of automobiles that should be done only by skillful drivers on a closed course Synonyms & Similar Words
- skilled
- adept
- proficient
- experienced
- expert
- masterful
- good
- talented
- practiced
- accomplished
- virtuoso
- great
- master
- educated
- gifted
- masterly
- veteran
- consummate
- crackerjack
- capable
- versed
- competent
- complete
- adroit
- ace
- professed
- efficient
- deft
- dexterous
- effective
- clever
- trained
- compleat
- crack
- practised
- qualified
- employable
- polished
- dextrous
- slick
- knowledgeable
- handy
- old
- workmanlike
- effectual
- refined
- sure-handed
- able
- taught
- schooled
- fitted
- habile
- fit
- all-round
- tutored
- well-rounded
- multiskilled
- multitalented
- all-around
- long-term
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unskilled
- inexperienced
- unskillful
- incompetent
- inexpert
- amateur
- inept
- incapable
- amateurish
- unprofessional
- weak
- artless
- unseasoned
- unqualified
- crude
- ineffective
- unfit
- inefficient
- unable
- ineffectual
- unfitted
- rude
- untrained
- inexperienced
- ignorant
- new
- jackleg
- untalented
- untutored
- unschooled
- beginning
- untaught
- raw
- primitive
- green
- clumsy
- unseasoned
- untried
- unpolished
- talentless
- rough
- ungifted
- awkward
- untested
- ham-handed
- ham-fisted
- heavy-handed
- would-be
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of skillful are adept, expert, proficient, and skilled. While all these words mean "having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession," skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance.
skillful drivers
While in some cases nearly identical to skillful, adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency.
adept at doing long division
Although the words expert and skillful have much in common, expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill.
expert in the evaluation of wines
The synonyms proficient and skillful are sometimes interchangeable, but proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice.
proficient in translating foreign languages
While the synonyms skilled and skillful are close in meaning, skilled stresses mastery of technique.
a skilled surgeon