masterful
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Related to masterful: masterfully, masterly
masterful
dominating; self-willed: The envoy’s masterful behavior irritated the citizens.
Not to be confused with:
masterly – like or befitting a master: a masterly presentation of his paintings
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
mas·ter·ful
(măs′tər-fəl)adj.
1. Acting or capable of acting as a master or leader, especially in being domineering or imperious: "Do you agree with me that I have a right to be a little masterful, abrupt; perhaps exacting, sometimes" (Charlotte Brontë).
2. Having or showing mastery or skill; expert: a masterful technique; masterful at filmmaking.
mas′ter·ful·ly adv.
mas′ter·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). But in practice writers have been less heedful, and today masterful is well attested with the meaning "finely skilled." In fact, the word masterful is far more likely to occur before words like performance and ability than masterly is.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
masterful
(ˈmɑːstəfʊl)adj
1. having or showing mastery
2. fond of playing the master; imperious
3. masterly
ˈmasterfully adv
ˈmasterfulness n
Usage: The use of masterful to mean masterly as in a masterful performance, although common, is considered incorrect by many people
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
mas•ter•ful
(ˈmæs tər fəl, ˈmɑ stər-)adj.
1. having or showing the qualities of a master; authoritative.
2. domineering.
3. showing mastery; masterly.
[1300–50]
mas′ter•ful•ly, adv.
mas′ter•ful•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| 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"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" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
masterful
adjective
1. skilful, skilled, expert, finished, fine, masterly, excellent, crack (informal), supreme, clever, superior, world-class, exquisite, tasty (Brit. informal), adept, consummate, first-rate, deft, superlative, adroit, dexterous a masterful performance of boxing
skilful incompetent, clumsy, inept, unskilled, amateurish, untalented, unaccomplished
skilful incompetent, clumsy, inept, unskilled, amateurish, untalented, unaccomplished
2. domineering, authoritative, dictatorial, bossy (informal), arrogant, imperious, overbearing, tyrannical, magisterial, despotic, high-handed, peremptory, overweening, self-willed Successful businesses need bold, masterful managers.
domineering weak, meek, spineless, irresolute, wussy (slang), wimpish or wimpy (informal)
domineering weak, meek, spineless, irresolute, wussy (slang), wimpish or wimpy (informal)
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.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
masterful
adjective1. Tending to dictate:
2. Exercising authority:
3. Having or demonstrating a high degree of knowledge or skill:
Slang: crackerjack.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
مُحِب للسَّيْطَرَه، مُسْتَبِد
pánovitýsuverénní
myndig
ráîríkur; skipandi
otoriteryönetme gücü olan
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
masterful
[ˈmɑːstərfəl] adj (= masterly) [performance, skill, book, film] → magistral(e)
[performer, player, writer] → magistral(e)master key n → passe-partout m inv
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
masterful
adj → meisterhaft; ball control → gekonnt; (= dominating) personality → gebieterisch; he’s got a masterful, yet polite attitude → er hat eine bestimmte, aber trotzdem höfliche Art; he said in a masterful tone → sagte er in bestimmtem Ton; we were amazed at his masterful control of the meeting → wir staunten darüber, wie überlegen or souverän er die Sitzung in der Hand hatte
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
master
(ˈmaːstə) – feminine mistress (ˈmistris) – noun1. a person or thing that commands or controls. I'm master in this house!
2. an owner (of a slave, dog etc). The dog ran to its master.
3. a male teacher. the Maths master.
4. the commander of a merchant ship. the ship's master.
5. a person very skilled in an art, science etc. He's a real master at painting.
6. (with capital) a polite title for a boy, in writing or in speaking. Master John Smith.
adjective (of a person in a job) fully qualified, skilled and experienced. a master builder/mariner/plumber.
verb1. to overcome (an opponent, handicap etc). She has mastered her fear of heights.
2. to become skilful in. I don't think I'll ever master arithmetic.
ˈmasterful adjective showing the power, authority or determination of a master. a masterful man.
ˈmasterfully adverbˈmasterfulness noun
ˈmasterly adjective
showing the skill of a master. His handling of the situation was masterly.
ˈmasterliness nounˈmastery noun
(usually with over or of) control, great skill or knowledge. We have gained mastery over the enemy.
master key a key which opens a number of locks.
ˈmastermind noun the person planning and controlling an undertaking or scheme. He was the mastermind behind the scheme.
verb to plan (such a scheme). Who masterminded the robbery?
ˈmasterpiece noun a piece of work or art worthy (to be called the greatest achievement) of a master. He considers this picture his masterpiece.
master stroke a very clever thing to do. This sudden, unexpected attack was a master stroke.
master switch a switch for controlling a number of other switches. There is a master switch that controls all the electricity.
master of ceremonies abbreviation ( MC) a person who announces the various stages of an entertainment, formal social gathering, series of speakers at a dinner etc. The master of ceremonies introduced the speaker.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.