What does masterful mean?
Word: Masterful
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Masterful means showing great skill. It can also describe someone who is good at taking charge.
Synonyms: expert
How do you spell masterful?
Syllables: mas - ter - ful
Tricky part: The ending ful has only one l. When full becomes a suffix, it always drops an l, as in careful and helpful.
Watch out for: masterfull, mastefull
Memory tip: Full of skill but short of an l: this word ends with just one.
Masterful in a sentence
Example 1: The sitar player gave a masterful performance at the school function.
Example 2: With a masterful kick, Arjun curled the ball into the top corner of the net.
Example 3: Grandpa tells stories in such a masterful way that we forget to eat.
Fun Fact
Some careful writers keep masterly for great skill and masterful for a person who likes to take control. In everyday English, though, masterful is used for both.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) wonderful
b) beautiful
c) powerful
d) mastarful
Show answer
d) mastarful. Master ends in er, just like teacher and painter.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word:
masterful
a) lazy
b) careless
c) skilful
d) nervous
Show answer
c) skilful. Doing something in a masterful way means doing it with great skill.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
fulmrates
a) mastermind
b) mournful
c) masterful
d) masterpiece
Show answer
c) masterful. Mastermind and masterpiece start the same way but need letters that are not here, and mournful has an o.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
massterful
a) s
b) r
c) m
d) t
Show answer
a) s. Only one s comes before the t, as in fast and last.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The captain's masterful voice made everyone ____.
a) forget what to do
b) laugh at her plan
c) fall asleep at once
d) listen and follow her lead
Show answer
d) listen and follow her lead
2. Which performer would people call masterful?
a) a singer who sings too softly
b) a singer who arrives late
c) a singer who forgets the words
d) a singer who never misses a note
Show answer
d) a singer who never misses a note
