The Articulate Professional online!

- Helping executives extend the reach and impact of their communications since 1993

Artful

printer friendly format

(pronounced ahrt-ful)  adjective

Definition

1. performed with, or demonstrating, art or skill.  2. skillful or clever in attaining an end, especially by the use of cunning or craft; inventive and imaginative; adroit.

Main Example

• The recently released movie "The Bank Job," which is based on a famous bank robbery in London, has been winning high praise from critics who describe it as perhaps the most artfully made heist film in over a decade.

Workplace Examples

• You should have been there when Julia spoke. What an artful performance! She made every argument cogently and very succinctly, and she used all sorts of audio, video, and other documentary evidence to support her points. The entire audience was in awe.
• During yesterday's meeting, did you notice how Lauren was trying to suggest, in a very artful, indirect sort of way, that we let her work from home three days a week?

Other Examples

• in one of his continuing education seminars, this author teaching participants how to artfully disarm and neutralize their critics and detractors by using the cognitive dissonance technique [Call 281-463-2500 or email V.J. for more information]
• a colleague saying: "Yeah, when it comes to critiquing others, John can be pretty unartful and tactless. He really needs to learn how to give feedback without causing offense."
• an artful diplomat; in a 2004 "60 Minutes" interview, on being asked why their industry was promoting larger and larger SUVs and trucks despite America's dependence on Middle East oil, an auto exec's artfully worded reply: "We're just doing what the customer wants."; the artfully worded sweepstakes mailings, designed to give the impression that your chances of winning will dramatically improve if you order some of the magazines offered
• Ken Burns's documentary "The Civil War" attaining epic status because of its artful blend of crisp narrative, music, sound effects, humor, old photographs and paintings, and background voices that help bring to life a parade of historic events and figures
• in a 2003 lawsuit, famous investor Kirk Kerkorian alleging that Daimler-Benz Chairman Jurgen Schrempp acquired Chrysler in 1998 through deception--that he artfully presented the deal as a merger of equals when his real intention was to turn Chrysler into a mere division of Daimler-Benz

© 2008 V.J. Singal

This Month's Other Words

Products to sharply enhance your vocabulary:

Now available on CD-ROM: Past editions of Words of the Month.
Click here for more information.
The Articulate Professional (1995 revised ed.) is also available.
Place an order or click here for testimonials attesting to its effectiveness as a vocabulary-building tool.
Now get the CD-ROM and the book for only $34. Order now!

*Price includes tax & shipping in US/Canada.

Copyright © 1999 - 2008 by V.J. Singal. Articulate is a registered trademark.
Questions or comments may be sent directly to the author.
Phone: 281-463-2500, P.O. Box 841155, Houston, TX 77284-1155