masterful

mas·ter·ful  (mstr-fl)

adj.

1. Given to playing the master; imperious or domineering.

2. Fit to command.

3. Revealing mastery or skill; expert: a masterful technique; masterful moviemaking.

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master·ful·ly adv.

master·ful·ness n.

Usage Note: According to a widely repeated dictum, masterful should be reserved for the sense "imperious, domineering" (as in a masterful tone of voice), whereas masterly should be the choice when the intended sense is "having the skill of a master" (as in a masterly performance of the sonata). The distinction can serve a useful purpose, but masterful in the latter sense has long been common in reputable writing and cannot be regarded as incorrect.

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masterful

Adjective

1. showing great skill

2. domineering or authoritarian

masterfully adv

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

masterful - having or revealing supreme mastery or skill; "a consummate artist"; "consummate skill"; "a masterful speaker"; "masterful technique"; "a masterly performance of the sonata"; "a virtuoso performance" consummate, masterly, virtuoso skilled - having or showing or requiring special skill; "only the most skilled gymnasts make an Olympic team"; "a skilled surgeon has many years of training and experience"; "a skilled reconstruction of her damaged elbow"; "a skilled trade"

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masterful

adjective 1. skilful, skilled, expert, finished, fine, masterly, excellent, crack (informal) supreme, clever, superior, world-class, exquisite, adept, consummate, first-rate, deft, superlative, adroit, dexterous << OPPOSITE unskilled

adjective 2. domineering, authoritative, dictatorial, bossy (informal) arrogant, imperious, overbearing, tyrannical, magisterial, despotic, high-handed, peremptory, overweening, self-willed << OPPOSITE meek

USAGE In current usage there is a lot of overlap between the meanings of masterful and masterly. According to some, the first should only be used where there is a connotation of power and domination, the second where the connotations are of great skill. Nevertheless, as the Bank of English shows, the majority of uses of masterful these days relate to the second meaning, as in musically, it was a masterful display of the folk singer's art. Anyone wishing to observe the distinction would use only masterly in the context just given, and masterful in contexts such as: his need to be masterful with women was extreme; Alec was so masterful that he surprised himself.

Translations

masterful [ˈmɑːstəful] adj → magistral, dominante

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masterful [ˈmɑːstəful] adj → autoritaire, impérieux/euse

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masterful [ˈmɑːstəful] master adj → gebieterisch;

(skilful) → meisterhaft

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masterful [ˈmɑːstəful] adj → autoritario/a, imperioso/a