Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for masterful

masterful

[ mas-ter-fuhl, mah-ster- ]

adjective

  1. dominating; self-willed; imperious.

    Synonyms: peremptory

  2. having or showing the qualities of a master; authoritative; powerful.
  3. showing mastery or skill; masterly:

    a masterful performance.

    Synonyms: matchless, skillful, skilled, expert, adept, complete, consummate



masterful

/ ˈmɑːstəfʊl /

adjective

  1. having or showing mastery
  2. fond of playing the master; imperious
  3. masterly


Discover More

Usage

The use of masterful to mean masterly as in a masterful performance , although common, is considered incorrect by many people

Discover More

Confusables Note

At an earlier time, both masterful and masterly had two senses: “having a commanding or domineering nature or manner” and “possessing the skill of a master.” The earliest sense of masterly, “having a commanding nature,” has been obsolete since the 18th century. Masterful continues to be used in all varieties of speech and writing in both senses, despite the protests of some who prefer that masterful be restricted to the sense “dominating or imperious”: The envoy's masterful behavior irritated the citizens. Few painters have produced so many masterful (or masterly ) portraits.

Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈmasterfulness, noun
  • ˈmasterfully, adverb

Discover More

Other Words From

  • master·ful·ly adverb
  • master·ful·ness noun
  • over·master·ful adjective
  • over·master·ful·ly adverb
  • over·master·ful·ness noun
  • un·master·ful adjective
  • un·master·ful·ly adverb

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of masterful1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; master, -ful

Discover More

Example Sentences

Dear Thief is worthy of the abused critical adjectives philosophical, atmospheric, and masterful.

Washington, a truly masterful storyteller, grew up in what he calls “a wacky cult”—the Worldwide Church of God.

The pageant did achieve the dubious honor of becoming a masterful example of "show" versus "tell."

The scenes between Redmayne and Jones where the latter party struggles to pull him away from the edge are masterful.

“When I first met Ed, I thought he was a peculiar guy, but when I got my hands on the book, it was masterful,” Osse said.

The somewhat full double chin, and the carriage of her head, gave her a masterful look.

Gatien Boirouge was made game of by Lousteau, to whom he had confessed his love for that masterful woman.

We have seen that in his theories he did not admit of individual passion, finding it too masterful, too familiar and violent.

He knew that if he were really panic-stricken and attempted to carry it off in the masterful manner, she would laugh in his face.

"Tell me what is the matter," he said, a stronger note in his voice, the old masterful spirit asserting itself again.

Advertisement

Word of the Day

petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


master filemaster gunnery sergeant