masterful

adjective

mas·ter·ful ˈma-stər-fəl How to pronounce masterful (audio)

: inclined and usually competent to act as master

: suggestive of a domineering nature

: having or reflecting the power and skill of a master

masterfully

ˈma-stər-fə-lē How to pronounce masterful (audio)

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.

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

单词	masterfully
释义	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 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 masterfully adverb as in skillfully in a skillful or expert manner plays the violin masterfully, especially for a performer of her age Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance skillfully artfully expertly deftly adroitly capably well neatly adeptly competently ably masterly proficiently easily cleverly consummately aptly dexterously cleanly facilely fluently nimbly handily Antonyms & Near Antonyms poorly ineptly inexpertly unskillfully amateurishly incompetently inefficiently artlessly clumsily crudely inaptly awkwardly incapably See More
随便看	currency unit current current account current affairs current assets current balance current bedding current cost current density current events current intensity current liability current limiter current mark current meter current of action current of rest current ratio current ripple current strength current tap current transformer current yield current-bedded current-limiting reactor

masterful

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

adverb