Able
What it means
Possessing the skill or practical capacity to do something well.
Reach for it when describing someone who can be trusted with a task
Mara is an able negotiator who keeps difficult talks productive.
Words to choose between 8
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
-
everyday
Fits when the person has the overall ability to handle the work
Careful Skill in one narrow technique calls for proficient, not this broad judgment.
-
everyday
Fits when practice has produced a clear practical ability
Careful Potential without demonstrated technique is better described as capable.
-
warm
Fits when the person succeeds by finding clever ways around constraints
Careful Plenty of resources and routine expertise do not show resourcefulness.
-
professional
Fits when the person reliably meets an expected standard
Careful Exceptional mastery deserves expert or accomplished instead.
-
professional
Fits when results matter more than the person's underlying talent
Careful This evaluates impact, so it misses praise aimed at skill itself.
-
professional
Fits when ability in a named tool, language, or method matters
Careful It sounds too technical for a general tribute to someone's good judgment.
-
formal
Fits when credentials or required experience establish suitability
Careful Do not choose it when no formal requirement or selection decision is involved.
-
literary
Fits when you want to praise ease and finesse in a particular activity
Careful For dependable adequacy without special flair, competent is the safer word.
Opposites 3
- unable
- incapable
- incompetent
Common phrases 3
-
able leader
An able leader gave the specialists room to solve the problem.
-
able advocate
The tenants chose an able advocate for the mediation.
-
able successor
In Priya, the studio found an able successor to its founder.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated