Synonyms: Skilled

Whether you're talking about your favorite athlete, singer, or TikTok dancer, this list has words for the most talented people. For more synonym lists, explore our Say What You Mean resources.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. accomplished
    highly skilled
    For the first time, Miss Brown deemed me accomplished enough to be included on the program. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
  2. ace
    someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
    When field marshals picked their men I was snapped up 'cause I was an ace dodger and tree climber. Black Swan Green
    In the two World Wars, the skillful pilots who shot down many enemy planes were known as aces.
  3. adept
    having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
    However, Penelope did become very adept at drawing squirrels. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling
  4. adroit
    quick or skillful or adept in action or thought
    Watching him move, adroit for such a short, heavy man, I felt guilty at the deception. Flowers for Algernon
    Adroit is French for "to the right," and it also means "correct." In English, adroit describes someone quick and clever.
  5. artful
    marked by skill or cunning in achieving a desired end
    He played an athletic, artful form of basketball, his lanky body moving quickly, showing power I hadn’t before noticed. Becoming
  6. deft
    skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands
    Bree's deft fingers close a series of hooks and clasps along my back. The Belles
  7. dexterous
    skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands
    I met the Chinese jugglers for the first time at this place, and I must say they are remarkably dexterous. Lindley, Augustus F.
    Dexter means "right" in Latin. For the majority of people, the right hand is more coordinated and skilled.
  8. facile
    performing adroitly and without effort
    Allowing a facile offense 24 points while seeming slow at linebacker and sloppy again in the secondary? Chicago Tribune (Sep 15, 2013)
    Facile means "easy" in French. It can be a compliment for someone who is skilled, but it can also be a putdown, dismissing something as being "too easy."
  9. fluent
    smooth and unconstrained in movement
    He didn't realize that I am fluent in Spanish, as it was the language I learned after English. Counting by 7s
    If you speak a language well, you're fluent.
  10. ingenious
    showing inventiveness and skill
    Knowing he wouldn’t be able to pull that off twice, Smith tried his most ingenious move: hiding in plain sight. Seabiscuit: An American Legend
  11. keen
    demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
    He was a successful artisan, a keen businessman, and a married man, devoted to his wife. The Girl Who Drank the Moon
    Keen means "sharp."
  12. proficient
    having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
    Sapiens were more proficient hunters and gatherers—thanks to better technology and superior social skills—so they multiplied and spread. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
  13. qualified
    holding appropriate official documentation
    "I’m sorry, Ngozi,” she said, "But we decided to hire a more qualified person. Good luck!” Americanah
  14. savvy
    the ability to shrewdly understand or judge things
    It’s because he possessed the kind of savvy that allowed him to get what he wanted from the world. Outliers
    To be savvy is to be clever and experienced.
  15. virtuoso
    someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
    “Well, I don’t like to brag, but I am a virtuoso at the spoons.” Beauty Queens
    Virtuoso is Italian, and was first used to describe musicians of extraordinary skill. Now it can be used for anyone who is jaw-droppingly good at something.
Created on Mon Mar 09 21:02:28 EDT 2020 (updated Mon Mar 22 17:51:19 EDT 2021)

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