the right stuff

ADJECTIVE

experienced

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accomplished capable competent mature professional qualified seasoned skillful sophisticated trained veteran wise

STRONG

accustomed cultivated dynamite instructed matured practiced rounded sport tested tried versed vet

WEAK

adept been around been there broken in expert familiar having something on the ball in the know knowing one's stuff knowing the score old old hand practical pro well-versed worldly worldly-wise

Antonyms

STRONGEST

amateur green ignorant incapable incompetent inept inexperienced unable unskilled unskillful untalented untrained

WEAK

immature unfamiliar unknowledgeable unseasoned unsophisticated

NOUN

ability

Synonyms

STRONGEST

capability expertise ingenuity proficiency skill strength talent

STRONG

adroitness bent cleverness command craft deftness expertness finesse flair genius gift handiness knack know-how mastery savvy skillfulness

WEAK

mind for particular activity adeptness the goods what it takes

Antonyms

STRONGEST

inability incapacity incompetence ineptness lack weakness

STRONG

ignorance ineptitude want

WEAK

clumsiness impotence inadequacy inanity limitation paralysis stupidity

NOUN

class

Synonyms

STRONGEST

circle club company degree family grade league place position

STRONG

ancestry birth bourgeoisie breed caliber caste clan clique condition connection coterie derivation descent estate extraction genealogy hierarchy influence intelligentsia lineage moiety nobility origin pedigree pigeonhole prestige quality sect source sphere standing state station status stock strain stratum tier title

WEAK

cultural level pecking order social rank

Antonyms

STRONGEST

unemployment

STRONG

conclusion consequence death effect end outgrowth result

NOUN

competence

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appropriateness capability capacity competency expertise fitness know-how proficiency qualification savvy skill suitability

STRONG

adequacy makings might moxie

WEAK

cutting it cutting the mustard hacking it making the grade qualifiedness the goods what it takes

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ignorance impotence inability inappropriateness incompetence ineptness lack

WEAK

inadequacy incapability inefficience

NOUN

intelligence

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acumen agility brilliance intellect judgment perception quickness savvy sense skill subtlety understanding wit

STRONG

IQ acuity alertness aptitude brainpower brains brightness capacity cleverness comprehension coruscation discernment luminosity mentality mind penetration perspicacity precocity quotient reason sagacity smarts trenchancy

WEAK

gray matter what it takes

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ignorance inability stupidity

STRONG

disinclination physicality

WEAK

ineptness

NOUN

smarts

Synonyms

STRONG

IQ acuity acumen alertness aptitude brainpower brains brightness brilliance cleverness competence comprehension intellect judgment know-how mind perception perspicacity precocity reason savvy sense understanding

WEAK

gray matter what it takes

Antonyms

STRONG

disbelief disinclination ignorance inability ineptness misinterpretation mistake misunderstanding stupidity

NOUN

talent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

art capability capacity expertise flair genius gift knack know-how power savvy skill thing

STRONG

aptitude aptness bent craft endowment facility faculty forte head inventiveness nose set smarts turn

WEAK

a way with green thumb the formula the goods what it takes

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ignorance impotence inability incapacity incompetence ineptitude ineptness lack want

STRONG

stupidity weakness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

You’re doing all the right stuff by yourself, and you’re among professionals, medical professionals, not Yahoos, and you can still have someone else make a mistake and your life is gone.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

If he was made of the right stuff, then how come Martin benched him against St Mirren last Sunday, against Brugge last Tuesday, against Alloa before that and against Dundee before that?

From BBC • Aug. 28, 2025

Eco-labels, while not perfect, are still a good indicator that you are buying the right stuff.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2023

While the Dolphins and Ravens couldn’t pull off upsets, Daniel Jones and the New York Giants had the right stuff against the Minnesota Vikings.

From Washington Times • Jan. 16, 2023

He’d had a chance to show he had the right stuff and stand up for the old dog.

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein

the right stuff

Example Sentences

Related Words