| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | very able |
| Synonyms: | accomplished, ace*, adroit, brainy, capable, clean*, crack*, crackerjack*, deft, dexterous, expert, hot*, hotshot, know stuff, masterful, masterly, no dummy, no slouch, nobody's fool, on the ball, on the beam, practiced, proficient, quick, savvy, sharp, sharp as a tack, skilled, skillful, slick, smooth, there, up to speed, versed, whiz*, wizard |
| Antonyms: | awkward, clumsy, incompetent, inept, unskilled |
| Main Entry: | adroit |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | very able or skilled |
| Synonyms: | adept, apt, artful, clean, clever, crack*, crackerjack*, cunning, cute, deft, dexterous, expert, foxy*, good, handy, hot tamale, ingenious, masterful, neat*, nifty*, nimble, on the ball, on the beam, proficient, quick on the trigger, quick on the uptake, quick-witted, savvy, sharp, skillful, slick, smart, up to speed, up*, whiz*, wizard |
| Antonyms: | awkward, clumsy, dense, inept, stupid, unskilled |
| Main Entry: | clever |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | bright, ingenious |
| Synonyms: | able, adept, adroit, alert, apt, astute, brainy, brilliant, cagey, canny, capable, competent, crackerjack*, cunning, deep, dexterous/dextrous, discerning, egghead, expert, foxy*, gifted, good, handy, intelligent, inventive, keen, knowing, knowledgeable, many-sided, nimble, nobody's fool, pretty, pro, qualified, quick, quick on trigger, quick-witted, rational, resourceful, sagacious, savvy, sensible, sharp, shrewd, skilled, skillful, slick, sly, smart, sprightly, talented, versatile, wise, witty |
| Antonyms: | awkward, foolish, idiotic, ignorant, naive, senseless, stupid, unclever |
| Main Entry: | crack |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | super, first-rate |
| Synonyms: | able, ace, adept, best, capital, choice, crackerjack*, deluxe, elite, excellent, expert, first-class, handpicked, pro*, proficient, skilled, skillful, superior, talented |
| Antonyms: | bad, inferior, poor |
| Main Entry: | cunning |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | imaginative |
| Synonyms: | able, adroit, canny, clever, crackerjack*, deft, dexterous, ingenious, intelligent, masterful, skillful, slighty, sly, smart, smooth, subtle, well-laid, well-planned |
| Antonyms: | unclever, unimaginative |
| Main Entry: | dexterous |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | ingenious, proficient |
| Synonyms: | able, active, acute, adept, adroit, agile, apt, artful, canny, clever, crack*, crackerjack*, deft, effortless, expert, facile, handy, having the know-how, masterly, neat, nimble, nimble-fingered, prompt, quick, savvy, skilled, skillful, slick, sly, smooth |
| Notes: | though dexterous (skillful with the hands) is preferably spelled with two e's, ambidextrous has only one |
| Antonyms: | awkward, clumsy, inept, inexpert, unable, unhandy, unskilled |
| Main Entry: | expert |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | knowledgeable, proficient |
| Synonyms: | able, adept, adroit, apt, big league, clever, crack, crackerjack*, deft, dexterous, experienced, facile, handy, practiced, professional, qualified, savvy, schooled, sharp, skilled, skillful, slick, trained, virtuoso |
| Antonyms: | amateur, inexpert, unknowledgeable, unskilled, untrained |
| Main Entry: | master |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | expert |
| Synonyms: | ace*, adept, crack*, crackerjack*, experienced, masterly, proficient, skilled, skillful |
| Antonyms: | amateur |
| Main Entry: | masterful |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | expert, skilled |
| Synonyms: | adept, adroit, clever, consummate, crack, crackerjack*, deft, dexterous, excellent, exquisite, fine, finished, first-rate, master, masterly, preeminent, proficient, skillful, superior, superlative, supreme, transcendent |
| Notes: | masterful can mean dominating, domineering, imperious, and imposing; masterly can describe having the skills of a master and means adroit and expert |
| Antonyms: | amateurish, ignorant, stupid, unproficient, unskilled |