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Definitions

smooth sailing

NOUN
ease
Synonyms
STRONGEST
aplomb composure dexterity efficiency familiarity flexibility fluency nonchalance poise quickness simplicity
STRONG
adroitness affability breeze cinch cleverness dispatch easygoingness effortlessness expertise expertness informality insouciance knack liberty naturalness pushover readiness setup skillfulness smoothness snap unaffectedness unconstraint
WEAK
child's play duck soup relaxedness unreservedness
Antonyms
STRONGEST
inability
WEAK
excitableness inhibition restriction
NOUN
facility
Synonyms
STRONG
address adroitness aptitude bent competence dexterity efficiency effortlessness expertness fluency knack leaning lightness poise proficiency propensity quickness readiness skill skillfulness smoothness spontaneity tact turn wit
WEAK
child's play
Antonyms
STRONG
clumsiness disinclination inability incapability incapacity incompetence ineptness
WEAK
difficulty hardness
NOUN
informality
Synonyms
STRONGEST
casualness familiarity nonchalance simplicity spontaneity
STRONG
affability aplomb breeze cinch cleverness composure dexterity dispatch easiness easygoingness efficiency effortlessness expertise expertness flexibility fluency insouciance knack liberty naturalness poise pushover quickness readiness setup skillfulness smoothness snap unaffectedness unceremoniousness unconstraint unrestraint
WEAK
child's play duck soup relaxedness unreservedness
Antonyms
STRONG
inability
NOUN
picnic
Synonyms
STRONG
breeze cinch lark pushover setup snap walkover
WEAK
child's play duck soup kid stuff light work no trouble piece of cake sure thing
Antonyms
WEAK
difficulty drudgery
NOUN
plain sailing
Synonyms
WEAK
easy going easy progress easy ride straight sailing
NOUN
snap
Synonyms
STRONG
breeze cinch ease picnic pie walkover
WEAK
child's play duck soup easy as pie kid stuff no problem soft touch
Antonyms
STRONG
difficulty

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.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing in that crisis either.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

“But the underlying structure still reads as anything but smooth sailing for equity investors.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

"We've been in this situation before where we have lost a game early and World Cups aren't always smooth sailing," he said.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

Whatever happens after Carnival earnings drop, it’s unlikely to be smooth sailing.

From Barron's • Dec. 18, 2025

Once she got examined for her teacher’s certificate, it’d be smooth sailing for her.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck