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as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude a masterful businesswoman who didn't hesitate to step on a lot of people as she climbed the ladder of success

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word masterful distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of masterful are domineering, imperative, imperious, and peremptory. While all these words mean "tending to impose one's will on others," masterful implies a strong personality and ability to act authoritatively.

her masterful personality soon dominated the movement

When could domineering be used to replace masterful?

The words domineering and masterful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, domineering suggests an overbearing or arbitrary manner and an obstinate determination to enforce one's will.

children controlled by domineering parents

When is imperative a more appropriate choice than masterful?

While in some cases nearly identical to masterful, imperative implies peremptoriness arising more from the urgency of the situation than from an inherent will to dominate.

an imperative appeal for assistance

In what contexts can imperious take the place of masterful?

In some situations, the words imperious and masterful are roughly equivalent. However, imperious implies a commanding nature or manner and often suggests arrogant assurance.

an imperious executive used to getting his own way

When is it sensible to use peremptory instead of masterful?

Although the words peremptory and masterful have much in common, peremptory implies an abrupt dictatorial manner coupled with an unwillingness to brook disobedience or dissent.

given a peremptory dismissal

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of masterful While envisioning and creating masterful dishes for a living is a fantasy for many, this industry is one filled with barriers, including low-paying starting positions and the need to work relentlessly to stand out and break through the glass ceiling. Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024 Thanks to her masterful marketing, her lime-green Brat album became a Gen Z phenomenon. Elizabeth Sporkin, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024 The film’s delicate, rather fantastic atmosphere of London and the English countryside owes much to the cinematography by the masterful Joseph H. August. Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 4 Dec. 2024 Not only can each section be unmoored and moved depending on the current exhibit, the galleries are a masterful nod to the Setouchi Islands in the Seto Inland Sea, which the museum faces. Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 4 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for masterful 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterful
Adjective
  • Not like those nasty authoritarian regimes (which actually do take in a lot of migrants in some cases, just ones whose diversity contribution isn’t as superficial).
    Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 28 Dec. 2024
  • Solzhenitsyn’s exploration and critique of Soviet history and authoritarian power never ceased.
    Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Some media outlets are surrendering to Trump already This absurd boasting — arrogant without portfolio — is just what Trump is looking for in the VOA job.
    Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Angle was able to alter between arrogant heel and lovable goofball almost on a whim.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Success will require new paradigms for U.S. trade policy and skillful diplomacy, as foreign leaders guard their own national interests.
    Peter E. Harrell, Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Parents know how skillful our teens can be when making the case against our rules or leadership, so this may come as a surprise.
    Alison Escalante, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Unlike in criminal cases, immigrants — including those who have lived in our communities for decades and contributed to our economies — have no constitutional right to an attorney while facing expert prosecutors and judges.
    Murad Awawdeh, New York Daily News, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get expert advice on topics like money, relationships, health and more.
    Malaka Gharib, NPR, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The Attitude Era succeeded on the backs of all-time greats Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, with Vince McMahon a domineering force both behind the scenes and on camera.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
  • Taurus April 20 – May 20 You might currently be motivated to stand your ground against a domineering authority figure.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Analysts cite several reasons — most notably declining revenue in the face of failure to provide customers with competitively superior value and excellent shopping experiences coupled with high operating costs, according to a December 3 report from GlobalData analyst Neil Saunders.
    Peter Cohan, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
  • That said, managers always want superior players at their disposal.
    James McNicholas, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Russia is adept at this type of warfare, and NATO knows it.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 29 Dec. 2024
  • Sometimes that's translating from one human language to another, but the technology is also adept at transforming text from one genre to another.
    Ina Fried, Axios, 28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Skipping ahead hundreds of millennia, researchers uncovered stirring examples of prehistoric peoples’ artistic inclinations: a sand sculpture that may have been shaped to resemble a blue stingray around 130,000 years ago and a 130,000-year-old bear bone featuring Neanderthal carvings.
    Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Still, the idea of pushing their artistic limits appealed to Clay.
    Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 26 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Masterful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterful. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.

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