masterful Hear it!

masterful Definition

mas·ter·ful (mas′tər fəl)

adjective

  1. fond of acting the part of a master; domineering; imperious
  2. having or showing the ability of a master; expert; skillful; masterly: usage objected to by some

masterful Related Forms
mas′·ter·fully adverb mas′·ter·ful·ness noun
masterful Synonyms

masterful

modif.

commanding, imperious, domineering, magisterial, forceful, dominating, dictatorial, high-handed, self-willed, strong-willed, powerful, authoritative, authoritarian, bossy*; see also autocratic 1, tyrannical.

masterful implies such strength of personality as enables one to impose one's will on others a masterful orchestral conductor; domineering implies the overbearing, tyrannical manner of one who openly tries to dominate another a domineering spouse; imperious suggests the arbitrary ruling of an emperor, and connotes more haughtiness than domineeringthe imperious old dean of the college; magisterial, while not suggesting an assumption of arbitrary powers, implies an excessive use or display of such inherent powers as a magistrate might have he dismissed me with a magisterial air

masterful Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • storyteller: A brilliant, witty and compact look at the game of snooker - past and present - from a masterful storyteller.
  • blend: Told with powerful authenticity this book rips open the closed world of underclass Britain with a masterful blend of fact and fiction.
  • piece: In today's market this album is a masterful piece of music making.
  • performance: Listening to these masterful performances, recorded many years ago of performers now dead?
  • job: The BBC has once again done a masterful job of adapting the novel to the format of radio drama.
  • command: Two overseas students who visited us in February revealed a masterful command of colloquial English.

Modifying Another Word

  • truly: Itâs actually quite wonderful to be reminded of what a truly masterful musician Bill Bailey actually is.
  • so: Where can I begin on a film so masterful?
  • typically: Leading the way with his 55th unbeaten tally in 337 club appearances was skipper Leigh Adams, who gave a typically masterful showing.
  • equally: The second tune, an English country dance was equally masterful.
  • absolutely: It's a simple plot but one that is well-written and absolutely masterful in the suspense stakes.
  • just: Sadly, I was not on the set for Hush, because it was just beautifully shot and just masterful from everyone involved.