masterful
Use Masterful in a sentence
tərRelated forms
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
Synonyms
1. peremptory. 3. consummate, supreme; adept, expert, skilled, skillful, matchless.
1. peremptory. 3. consummate, supreme; adept, expert, skilled, skillful, matchless.
Usage 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.
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To masterful
00:10
Masterful
is always a great word to know.
So is bezoar. Does it mean:
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
masterful (ˈmɑːstəfʊl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | having or showing mastery |
| 2. | fond of playing the master; imperious |
| 3. | masterly |
| usage The use of masterful to mean masterly as in a masterful performance, although common, is considered incorrect by many people | |
| 'masterfully | |
| —adv | |
| 'masterfulness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
He wanted to make the book so spare that only masterful mathematicians could deduce his conclusions.
Her disposition is a masterful one and her bearing always dignified.
After all, truly masterful headlines are a bit of a disappearing art.
Known to many as a scavenging species, hyenas are also masterful hunters.
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