variants also dextrous

Synonym Chooser

How is the word dexterous different from other adjectives like it?

The words adroit and deft are common synonyms of dexterous. While all three words mean "ready and skilled in physical movement," dexterous implies expertness with consequent facility and quickness in manipulation.

unrolled the sleeping bag with a dexterous toss

In what contexts can adroit take the place of dexterous?

The words adroit and dexterous can be used in similar contexts, but adroit implies dexterity but usually also stresses resourcefulness or artfulness or inventiveness.

the magician's adroit response to the failure of her prop won applause

Where would deft be a reasonable alternative to dexterous?

While in some cases nearly identical to dexterous, deft emphasizes lightness, neatness, and sureness of touch or handling.

a surgeon's deft manipulation of the scalpel

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dexterous Like any dexterous toddler, Lindsay would have moved her hands around while riding her mother’s back — but Beryl is missing an eye. Brandon Keim, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025 He’s got dexterous tools catching, tipping and redirecting pucks on first touch. Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025 Conductive palm-side material that enabled dexterous phone use, plus a durable, abrasion-resistant exterior, and bluesign approval added to the glove’s appeal. Mark Eller, Outside Online, 13 Dec. 2024 By enabling refined dexterous control through enhanced sensory feedback, this research opens new pathways for individuals with upper limb loss to engage in complex tasks traditionally deemed impossible with current prosthetics. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dexterous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dexterous
Adjective
  • Deep cleaning upholstery just got a whole lot easier with this handy home appliance, which is a longtime bestseller on Amazon.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Many are immigrants who may have had another profession in their previous lives — welders, mechanics or electricians with skills that come in handy at workplaces where something always needs fixing.
    Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • His non-fiction book The Onion Field, published in 1973, would stand as, arguably, his literary masterpiece, a skillful telling of the true tale of a 1963 kidnapping of two LAPD officers and the brutal murder of one of them.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Hackman tamped down all of his gritty charm to embody a squirrely surveillance expert, again showcasing a skillful adaptability early in his career.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The best communicators are not just skilled speakers but also active listeners who understand the deeper layers of interaction.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
  • For those keeping track, her character – a highly skilled assassin – was a fundamental part of the superhero team known as the Avengers who gave her life in order to procure an Infinity Stone which ultimately defeated extraterrestrial supervillain Thanos and saved the universe.
    Dan Heching, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • From Broderick Turner: James Harden was masterful in pouring in 50 points for a Clippers team that once again has endured a slew of injuries at the most inopportune time.
    Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Three members of the ‘Crab Five’ delivered the flavor Queen, the freshman from Baltimore, was masterful in the second half for Maryland, scoring 13 of his points in the period.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Classical methods of solving these problems, which often involve churning through possible solutions in clever ways, quickly become untenable.
    Stephen Ornes, Quanta Magazine, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The cut and fit of these is almost bespoke, and very clever.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Iran, for example, is expert at picking the winners of Iraqi elections.
    Michael Knights, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2025
  • All expert recommendations were derived from interviews.
    Catherine Brock, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Gilded by privilege and cunning, Glinda (Ariana Grande) is a popular young woman who desires to wield magic.
    Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Michael Douglas — Wall Street (1987) Gordon Gekko is a cunning and unscrupulous corporate predator who crystallized the Reagan-era ethos into three words.
    EW.com, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The scripts of the new series are laugh-out-loud funny, managing a delicate balance of raucous, lewd and sweet humor.
    Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Produced by the China Academy of Art, School of Animation and Games, the film explores the delicate balance between personal desires and societal expectations.
    Jamie Lang, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dexterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dexterous. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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