skillful

adjective skill·ful \ˈskil-fəl\

: having the training, knowledge, and experience that is needed to do something well : having a lot of skill

: showing or requiring skill

Full Definition of SKILLFUL

: possessed of or displaying skill : expert <a skillful chef>

: accomplished with skill <a skillful treatment>

— skill·ful·ly \-fə-lē\ adverb

— skill·ful·ness noun

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First Known Use of SKILLFUL

14th century

Related to SKILLFUL

Synonyms: adroit, artful, bravura, deft, delicate, dexterous (also dextrous), expert, masterful, masterly, practiced (also practised), virtuoso, workmanlike

Antonyms: amateur, amateurish, artless, rude, unprofessional, unskillful

Synonym Discussion of SKILLFUL

proficient, adept, skilled, skillful, expert mean having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession. proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice <proficient in translating foreign languages>. adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency <adept at doing long division>. skilled stresses mastery of technique <a skilled surgeon>. skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance <skillful drivers>. expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill <expert in the evaluation of wines>.