masterful
adjective
mas·ter·ful ˈma-stər-fəl 
1
a
: inclined and usually competent to act as master
b
: suggestive of a domineering nature
2
: having or reflecting the power and skill of a master
masterfully
ˈma-stər-fə-lē
adverb masterfulness noun
Did you know?
Some commentators insist that masterful must only mean "domineering," reserving the "expert, skillful" sense for masterly. The distinction is a modern one. In earlier times, the terms were used interchangeably, with each having both the "domineering" and "expert" senses. The "domineering" sense of masterly fell into disuse around the 18th century, however, and in the 20th century the famous grammarian H. W. Fowler decided that masterful should be similarly limited to a single meaning. He summarily ruled that the "expert" definition of masterful was incorrect. Other usage writers followed his lead. But the "expert" meaning of masterful has continued to flourish in standard prose in spite of the disapproval, and, considering the sense's long history, it cannot really be called an error.
Synonyms
- adroit
- artful
- bravura
- deft
- delicate
- dexterous
- dextrous
- expert
- masterly
- practiced
- practised
- skillful
- virtuoso
- workmanlike
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
His manner was masterful and abrupt. a masterful work of art He did a masterful job of staying out of trouble.
Recent Examples on the Web The cast tasked with it is masterful, from Keoghan's holy fool to Condon's long-suffering Siobhán, a nervy, sharp-witted woman stranded in a sea of petty grievances and grown adolescents. 
Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 14 Sep. 2022 The way the audio design and tactile feedback work together is masterful. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2022 Indeed, the group was so dissatisfied with how things ended that the musicians got together one more time afterward to record a proper farewell — the elegiac, masterful album Abbey Road. Andy Meek, BGR, 25 Apr. 2021 Clarinetist Anthony McGill was masterful throughout the performance. Lukas Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 Morello was masterful as ever on guitar, his wailing shrieks and frenetic teeth-picking a show all of their own while Wilk and Commerford were the backbone of the steady but explosive sonic assault. Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 10 July 2022 Tim was an extraordinary artist, who was masterful at storytelling and panel layouts and his compositions were second to none. Wilson Chapman, Variety, 16 June 2022 Along Jimmy's serpentine path of transformation, the show also spun a morality tale around Bad's masterful fixer, Mike. Dan Snierson, EW.com, 17 Aug. 2022 Airlines have become masterful at carving up the formerly one-size-fits-all cabin behind first class. Dawn Gilbertson, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 See More
Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 14 Sep. 2022 The way the audio design and tactile feedback work together is masterful. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2022 Indeed, the group was so dissatisfied with how things ended that the musicians got together one more time afterward to record a proper farewell — the elegiac, masterful album Abbey Road. Andy Meek, BGR, 25 Apr. 2021 Clarinetist Anthony McGill was masterful throughout the performance. Lukas Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 Morello was masterful as ever on guitar, his wailing shrieks and frenetic teeth-picking a show all of their own while Wilk and Commerford were the backbone of the steady but explosive sonic assault. Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 10 July 2022 Tim was an extraordinary artist, who was masterful at storytelling and panel layouts and his compositions were second to none. Wilson Chapman, Variety, 16 June 2022 Along Jimmy's serpentine path of transformation, the show also spun a morality tale around Bad's masterful fixer, Mike. Dan Snierson, EW.com, 17 Aug. 2022 Airlines have become masterful at carving up the formerly one-size-fits-all cabin behind first class. Dawn Gilbertson, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
masterful
adjective
mas·ter·ful ˈma-stər-fəl
1
: tending to take control : displaying authority
2
: having or showing great skill
a masterful sailor
masterfulness
noun
1
as in skillfulness
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something the sheer masterfulness of the thieves' plan could not be denied, even by the police Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- skillfulness
- skill
- artfulness
- cunning
- adeptness
- artistry
- art
- deftness
- proficiency
- adroitness
- ease
- cleverness
- creativity
- finesse
- talent
- expertise
- inventiveness
- expertness
- knack
- aptitude
- dexterity
- experience
- handiness
- ingenuity
- artifice
- flair
- craft
- gift
- knowledge
- learning
- know-how
- bent
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- artlessness
- ineptitude
- ineptness
- amateurishness
- clumsiness
- awkwardness
- crudeness
- maladroitness
- incompetence
- incapacity
- rudeness
- ineffectuality
- inefficiency
- inadequacy
- inability
- ineffectiveness
- inefficacy
- inadequateness
- incapability
- ineffectualness
- klutziness
2
as in arrogance
an exaggerated sense of one's importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims the shameless masterfulness that invested his every move was positively galling to his colleagues Synonyms & Similar Words
- arrogance
- superiority
- peremptoriness
- imperiousness
- lordliness
- disdain
- attitude
- superciliousness
- hauteur
- loftiness
- pompousness
- high horse
- haughtiness
- bumptiousness
- pridefulness
- huffiness
- pretension
- presumptuousness
- consequence
- pomposity
- pretense
- dominance
- vanity
- self-consequence
- assumption
- pretentiousness
- pretence
- self-importance
- pride
- toploftiness
- authoritativeness
- condescension
- snobbishness
- bossiness
- snobbery
- boastfulness
- snobbism
- bravado
- high-handedness
- snootiness
- sauciness
- impudence
- inflation
- vainglory
- vaingloriousness
- scorn
- egoism
- cheekiness
- swagger
- smugness
- egotism
- triumphalism
- impertinence
- side
- cockiness
- bowwow
- braggadocio
- bombast
- self-assertion
- superiority complex
- self-contentment
- self-opinion
- brag
- self-complacency
- self-content
- complacence
- strut
- swelled head
- conceit
- cheek
- chest-thumping
- self-satisfaction
- self-conceit
- self-partiality
- self-centeredness
- self-assumption
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- humility
- modesty
- unpretentiousness
- demureness
- bashfulness
- shyness
- timidity
- diffidence
- unassumingness
- timidness
- passivity
- meekness
- passiveness
- submissiveness
- retiringness
- lowliness
- quietness
- self-distrust
- reservedness
- mousiness
- reserve
- self-doubt