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masterful

masterful

33 5.3
Showing great skill and control
  • adjective
  • /ˈmæstərfəl/
translation icon : magistral
  • The chef's masterful technique in the kitchen impressed everyone at the restaurant.
  • a masterful use
  • a masterful book
  • a masterful novel

Narcissists are masterful at getting what they want.

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Examples

  • World class leaders are masterful communicators.

  • Now young yobos everywhere turned it into a masterful game which requires skill.

  • You remember over time the masterful work, the best work.

  • It's a brilliant design and masterful because it works for anyone and everyone.

  • Many point towards your works as examples of masterful world building.

  • While I appreciate your masterful legal theory, I have a murder trial to attend to.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • I remember him as being someone who was a masterful storyteller.

  • I mean, a real masterful and kind soul who's really taught me a lot.

  • I chose as the most masterful debater, Olivia.

  • While widely considered one of Fragonard's most masterful works, this painting is rarely discussed in any meaningful way.

    Academic text (2015)

Synonyms

skillful
vsmasterful
34 2.8

Good at doing something because of practice and careful control

adds performance authority and a sense of commanding competence beyond mere ability
brilliant
vsmasterful
30 3.2

Very impressive and grand in appearance or style

focuses on practical skill and authoritative competence rather than mere appearance
consummate
vsmasterful
  • Formal
27 7.7

Extremely skilled and perfect in what they do

denotes strong skill shown with authority rather than absolute perfection
virtuoso
vsmasterful
4 8.2

Showing very great skill, often in music or art

applies to broad high-level performance combined with authority and competence
masterly
vsmasterful
  • Formal
2 5.9

Showing great skill in an activity

focuses on doing things with recognised authority and reliable competence

Antonyms

73 1.2

Moving in an awkward, unsteady way that causes accidents

49 5.0

Not good at something and often clumsy

How Skillful

masterful
33 5.3
brilliant
949 3.7
skilled
172 3.5
competent
114 3.6
clumsy
73 1.2

Surface Forms

masterful positive

Morphology

masterful = master (transparent) = master + ful

The adjective is directly formed from the noun 'master' with the productive suffix '-ful', meaning 'full of or characterized by mastery', which a B1 learner can infer.

Etymology

Masterful comes from master, which means 'an expert' or someone 'in charge'. So, a masterful action is like a captain steering a ship: done with skill, confidence, and clear control.