Another word for skills
The best other words for skills are capabilities, qualifications, endowments and abilities.
- Most formal
- endowments, capabilities, expertise
- Strongest
- expertise, proficiency, talent
- Casual
- know-how, talent, gift
- Instead of “strong skills”
- good, solid, excellent
Skills /skɪlz/ (noun): abilities or learned capacities that let someone do something well. In simple words: things you can do well, especially because you practiced or learned them. Below are 22 rated synonyms across 3 senses, plus 22 more related words. Tap a chip for its nuance and an example.
24 synonyms shown
General abilities · noun
abilities developed through practice or learning
Personal abilities · noun
natural or developed things someone is good at
Find the right strength and register
Drag the amber target to how strong and how formal you need the word to be. The three closest synonyms light up.
You asked for: equal strength, neutral register
- abilities — broader and slightly more general
- capabilities — more formal, often on a larger scale
- competence — emphasizes adequacy and reliable performance
The dashed ring marks “skills” itself: neutral strength, neutral register.
Synonyms for skills in your sentence
None of these quite right? Paste your sentence and the AI picks replacements that fit it.
How to choose
Choose a synonym that matches both the kind of ability and the setting. For résumés and reports, formal terms like competence, proficiency, or expertise sound natural; for everyday praise, talent, know-how, or strengths are usually better.
Antonyms of skills
- inability
- weakness
- ignorance
- ineptitude
- unskillfulness
- unawareness
All synonyms at a glance
| Synonym | Strength | Formality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| abilities | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| capabilities | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| expertise | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
| competence | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| proficiency | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
| know-how | 3/5 | casual | business, casual |
| aptitude | 2/5 | formal | academic, business |
| talent | 4/5 | casual | creative, casual |
| gift | 4/5 | casual | creative, casual |
| qualifications | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| credentials | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| experience | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| training | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| practical knowledge | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| competencies | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| qualifications and experience | 3/5 | formal | business |
| strengths | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| powers | 3/5 | neutral | creative, casual |
| talents | 4/5 | casual | creative, casual |
| flare | 3/5 | casual | creative, casual |
| aptitudes | 2/5 | formal | academic, business |
| endowments | 3/5 | academic | academic, creative |
Instead of “very skills”
One precise word usually beats an intensifier. See the full words instead of “very” list.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| strong skills | good, solid, excellent |
| basic skills | simple, entry-level, fundamental |
| good skills | good, strong, solid |
More words related to skills
Looser matches and phrases, unrated. Check the sense before you swap one in, or compare it with “skills”.
- skill set
- technique
- techniques
- facility
- capability
- power
- strength
- flair
- dexterity
- adroitness
- deftness
- prowess
- mastery
- command
- familiarity
- background
- qualification
- trade
- craft
- craftsmanship
- practical ability
- line of work
Questions about synonyms for skills
What is the most formal or academic synonym for skills?
For academic or business writing, proficiency, competence, and expertise are the safest formal options. Expertise is strongest when you mean a high level in a specific field; proficiency is better for measurable command, and competence for solid, reliable ability.
What is a stronger or milder alternative to skills?
A stronger alternative is expertise or mastery, which suggests deeper specialization than skills. A milder alternative is ability or know-how, which sounds broader and less impressive.
Can I use skills to mean qualifications on a résumé?
Yes, but they are not identical. Skills are the abilities you can do; qualifications are the credentials, training, or requirements that help prove them.
What is another word for skills in a job application?
Common alternatives include abilities, experience, and qualifications, depending on the context. If you mean a specific job-related area, you can also use phrases like technical skills, communication skills, or problem-solving skills.
What is a more professional word for skills?
In formal writing, words like competencies, proficiency, expertise, or capabilities are often used. The best choice depends on whether you mean general ability, job performance, or specialized knowledge.