Talented
What it means
Possessing a notably strong ability in a particular activity.
Reach for it when giving broad praise for a person's developed or natural ability
The talented illustrator made a complex safety process understandable at a glance.
Words to choose between 8
| everyday |
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| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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everyday
Fits when reliable competence is enough and exaggeration would distract
Careful Capable undersells rare or remarkable ability.
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warm
Fits when exceptional natural aptitude is the intended compliment
Careful Gifted can minimize the effort and practice behind the achievement.
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warm
Fits when future potential matters more than current mastery
Careful Promising does not say the person already performs at a high level.
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professional
Fits when quick, fluent handling of a defined task stands out
Careful Adept is narrower and less celebratory than praise for wide creative ability.
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professional
Fits when deep knowledge and authoritative practice can be demonstrated
Careful Expert is a credential-like claim, not a casual substitute for general ability.
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professional
Fits when proven ability from training or practice is clear
Careful Skilled is safer than talented when no claim about unusual aptitude is warranted.
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formal
Fits when a record of finished work supports the praise
Careful Accomplished is premature for someone promising who has not yet built a body of work.
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literary
Fits when technical mastery in an art is extraordinary
Careful Virtuosic is inflated for solid everyday competence or non-artistic reliability.
Opposites 3
- unskilled
- inept
- untalented
Common phrases 3
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talented artist
The talented artist turned children's sketches into a joyful public mural.
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talented team
A talented team can still improve when its members invite honest critique.
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highly talented
The highly talented apprentice also showed patience with every beginner.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated