adept

[uh-dept, ad-ept, uh-dept] / əˈdɛpt, ˈæd ɛpt, əˈdɛpt /

ADJECTIVE

very able

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accomplished adroit capable deft proficient skilled skillful versed

STRONG

ace clean crack crackerjack expert hotshot quick savvy sharp slick smooth there whiz wizard

WEAK

brainy dexterous hot know stuff masterful masterly no dummy no slouch nobody's fool on the ball on the beam practiced sharp as a tack up to speed

Antonyms

STRONGEST

awkward clumsy green incapable incompetent inept inexperienced unable unskilled unskillful

STRONG

coarse ignorant indefinite lazy rough slow stupid unintelligent

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He painted his first portrait at age 14 and was adept also in pastels.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

Though “Backrooms” and Parsons are adept at creating dread and building worlds, that same principle of complexity is rarely applied to the film’s characters.

From Salon • May 30, 2026

The warning comes weeks after AI company Anthropic cautioned that its yet-to-be-released "Mythos" model was incredibly adept at finding and exploiting such weaknesses.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

But Ukraine has become ever more adept at targeting Russian cities, including Moscow, with long-range drones that cause limited damage but rattle public opinion.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

Fortunately, Penkovsky proved more adept than the Americans at finding a way to communicate with the West.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Vocabulary lists containing adept

100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

The Phantom Tollbooth

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Bright Ideas: Synonyms For "Smart"

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!