adept 1 of 2

adept

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word adept distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of adept are expert, proficient, skilled, and skillful. While all these words mean "having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession," adept implies special aptitude as well as proficiency.

adept at doing long division

When is it sensible to use expert instead of adept?

While in some cases nearly identical to adept, expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill.

expert in the evaluation of wines

When is proficient a more appropriate choice than adept?

In some situations, the words proficient and adept are roughly equivalent. However, proficient implies a thorough competence derived from training and practice.

proficient in translating foreign languages

In what contexts can skilled take the place of adept?

The words skilled and adept can be used in similar contexts, but skilled stresses mastery of technique.

a skilled surgeon

When might skillful be a better fit than adept?

The meanings of skillful and adept largely overlap; however, skillful implies individual dexterity in execution or performance.

skillful drivers

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of adept
Adjective
The political right has been adept at transforming class anger into opposition to elites defined not by wealth, but by cultural capital — professors, journalists and coastal technocrats. Chris Reed, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025 And now: Hardy has evolved since then into a rock star adept at making country music that thumbs its nose at mainstream expectations. Laura L. Davis, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Noun
Perhaps Sheridan’s greatest magic trick occurs on Landman, where the adept acting of Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Hamm make the case that Thornton’s oil-field fixer and Hamm’s billionaire are the true American martyrs. Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2025 Around him, dense as a swarm of tiny insects, float tiny images of fellow adepts engaged in all manner of outré shenanigans. Holland Cotter, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for adept
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adept
Adjective
  • While advanced data analytics can flag some of these anomalies, a skilled negotiator with full market visibility can go deeper.
    Eric Steele, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • Despite being made by skilled artisans on the Sicilian coast and designed in Sydney, the U.S. market is already one of its main drivers, its founder and interior designer Isabella Wilde said.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • Original cast members included food and wine expert Antoni Porowski, design chief Bobby Berk, grooming guru Jonathan Van Ness, culture and lifestyle specialist Karamo Brown and fashion connoisseur Tan France.
    Ellise Shafer, Variety, 9 July 2025
  • But forcing a cofounder relationship can do more harm than good: Research by entrepreneurship expert Noam Wasserman and others shows that conflict within the founding team is one of the primary reasons high-potential startups fail.
    Julia Austin, Harvard Business Review, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • Statewide, 28 schools got A grades despite at least half of their students not being proficient in language arts, while 56 schools got the top grade even though half or more of their students scored poorly in math.
    Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2025
  • While only half its students were proficient in math and language arts this year, two years ago, only 25% scored well in language arts and 11% in math.
    Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • Upper Buffalo Land Becomes Wilderness Area Tom Foti is a master botanist and former ecologist/research chief at the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 6 July 2025
  • Learn how to meal prep like a pro, create quick and nutritious grab-and-go options, and master time-saving hacks that keep you energized without the morning chaos.
    Essence, Essence, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • But despite those skillful trappings, the story soon feels ponderous.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 11 July 2025
  • And there was also skillful attention to the right marketing and distribution details.
    Andrew Tobias, Vulture, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • In addition to being a Sachs scholar, she was named a Gates Scholarship winner — a prestigious award from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
    Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 12 July 2025
  • Robert Osborn, an early thinker on lawn tennis, was also a religious scholar.
    Sam Knight, New Yorker, 12 July 2025
Adjective
  • Part of his reasoning for his decision to leave out such experienced internationals from his Euros squad was to offer more players major tournament experience.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 10 July 2025
  • Duffy is also viewed as a capable leader and experienced politician who understands how Washington, DC, works.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • He’s been a glamorous Visual Kei rock star, a classical composer, a virtuoso behind the drum kit, a producer and label owner and entrepreneur, and now, more than ever, an impresario.
    Steve Appleford, Variety, 17 June 2025
  • Little Feat, the archetypal ’70s band originally formed by Lowell George — a guitar virtuoso fired from the Mothers of Invention by Frank Zappa — has survived years of breakups, drug problems and even George’s untimely death in 1979.
    Dave Brooks, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Adept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adept. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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