able

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

adj. capable, competent, skillful, talented. See power, skill. Ant., incompetent; weak.

II

(Roget's IV) modif.

1. [Showing superior innate capacity]

Syn. talented, gifted, intelligent, ingenious, clever, smart, bright, canny, apt, ready, well-fitted, well-suited, worthy, capable, endowed, dexterous, handy, agile, nimble, nimble-fingered, strong, powerful, versatile, well-rounded, capacitated, cut out for*, having what it takes*, having the right stuff*.

Ant. stupid, bungling, unadaptable.

2. [Showing superior proven skill]

Syn. competent, capable, effective, efficient, qualified, well-qualified, fit, accomplished, proficient, skillful, skilled, adept, deft, adroit, clever, artful, masterly, masterful, expert, practiced, experienced, workmanlike, versatile, well-rounded, well-versed, conversant, knowledgeable, au fait (French), responsible, enterprising, resourceful, inventive, dexterous, strong, superior, first-rate, top-notch*, top-flight*, crack*, crackerjack*, slick*, smooth*, all-around*, an old dog at*, up on*, hotshot*, up to snuff*, up to the mark*, on the ball*.

Ant. inexperienced, inefficient, unskillful.

3. [Having the necessary power, skill, or resources]

Syn. capable of, qualified, fit for, fitted, well-fitted, equipped, well-equipped, equal to, suited to, competent to, having the ability, having the capability, having the capacity, cut out for*, up to*, up on*, conversant with, proficient, at home in, adequate, suitable, prepared, ready, endowed, authorized, empowered.

Syn.- able means having the power or capacity to do something [able to make payments ] but when used before a noun implies superior power or skill [ an able administrator ] ; capable usually implies the satisfactory meeting of ordinary requirements [ a capable machinist ] ; competent and qualified both imply the possession of the requisite qualifications or skills for the specified work, situation, etc., but qualified stresses compliance with specified requirements [ a competent critic of modern art, a qualified voter ]

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) a.

capable, habile, skillful, talented, competent, qualified, practiced, expert, deft, adroit, masterful.

ANT.: incompetent, ineffectual, weak, unskilled, unable

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) adjective Having the ability to perform well: capable, competent, good, skilled, skillful. See ABILITY.