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

Usage

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

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.

Derived Forms

• ˈmasterfulness, noun
• ˈmasterfully, adverb

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of masterful¹

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

Example Sentences

When he gets on these news programs he does a masterful job of explaining, in a detailed way with the evidence, how dangerously pathological Trump appears to be.

From Salon

Luckily for Democrats, Trump and his GOP are masterful at overplaying any advantage they may gain in the “fairness” stakes.

From Slate

It was a masterful captain's innings from Hope that put the Windies in a commanding position at the halfway stage, despite losing the toss.

From BBC

He did an absolutely masterful job in the 2024 season and playoffs of managing an unbelievably depleted pitching staff.

From Los Angeles Times

In a step up from his feature writing-directing debut, 2022’s “When You Finish Saving the World,” Eisenberg furthers himself here as a distinctive voice, one with a keen visual sense, a masterful ability to juggle tones and an innate feel for timing and pacing.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adroit
• deft
• excellent
• exquisite
• first-rate
• masterly
• skillful