Good
Good adjective - Having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor.
Usage example: he's good at math
Proficient is a synonym for good in ability topic. In some cases you can use "Proficient" instead an adjective "Good", when it comes to topics like capable, competent.
Proficient
Proficient adjective - Having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor.
Usage example: a proficient rendition of a difficult piano piece
Good is a synonym for proficient in ability topic. You can use "Good" instead an adjective "Proficient".
Nearby Words: proficiency, proficiently
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
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Informed Ability: Peeta is mentioned as being good with a knife and Katniss makes a point of giving him one during the Quarter Quell, yet he's more proficient at being The Load.
Source: Literature / The Hunger Games - The Romans were good and proficient at plumbing (which is a necessity in cities above a certain size if disease and smell are to be kept in check) and their word for lead ("plumbum") gives us the modern word, even though most Roman plumbing was made from masonry in one form or another.
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Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Subverted - the cowardly and slinky Flashman is a Big Guy of appropriate physical strength, a very good swordsman, proficient with cavalry lance and brags about his ability with horses.
Source: Literature / Flashman
Cite this Source
Proficient and Good. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/good/proficient
Good & Proficient. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/good/proficient>.
Proficient or Good. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/good/proficient.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "good" and "proficient" have occurred on timeline