Showing practiced ability, control, and good judgment in how something is done.
Reach for it when praising the execution of an act, performance, or response
Her skillful question let both sides explain the fear beneath their positions.
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional |
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| formal | |
| literary |
everyday
Fits when ingenuity makes the method impressive
Careful A clever shortcut can lack the care and technique of skillful work.
warm
Fits when interpersonal skill avoids needless offense
Careful Craft, athletics, and technical execution need a broader skill word.
professional
Fits when the performer has developed high ability over time
Careful Accomplished describes the person more naturally than one isolated action.
professional
Fits when the work demonstrates mastery, not just competence
Careful Expert is usually a claim about a person and needs stronger evidence.
professional
Fits when accuracy and control are the visible strengths
Careful Precision alone may be mechanical and say nothing about judgment.
formal
Fits when clever handling of a delicate situation is central
Careful Its polished tone may imply maneuvering in a warm personal tribute.
formal
Fits when quick, light control makes difficult work look easy
Careful It can understate the planning behind a slow, skillful solution.
literary
Fits when command and authority are exceptional
Careful Reserve it for outstanding execution; ordinary competence is not masterful.
skillful handling
Skillful handling of the complaint restored trust without hiding the error.
skillful use
The mural shows skillful use of shadow around the doorway.
skillful performance
A skillful performance made the difficult rhythm feel natural.
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
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