dexterity

dex·ter·i·ty

noun \dek-ˈster-ə-tē, -ˈste-rə-\

plural dex·ter·i·ties

Definition of DEXTERITY

1

: mental skill or quickness : adroitness

2

: readiness and grace in physical activity; especially : skill and ease in using the hands <manual dexterity>

Examples of DEXTERITY

1. The job requires manual dexterity.
2. He has the dexterity needed to deal cards quickly.
3. The amazing dexterity of the acrobat.
4. He's a teacher known for his imagination and verbal dexterity.
5. Russ Cellan, Ferguson's coach at Freeport (New York) High, and Ron Prince, his former offensive line coach at Virginia, both attribute Ferguson's dexterity and footwork to his extensive martial arts training … —Nunyo Demasio, Sports Illustrated, 10 Apr. 2006
6. The Carcanet volume also offers its readers the advantage of seeing the German originals alongside the English, enabling them to perceive at a glance how much sympathy and linguistic dexterity Elliot has brought to the difficult but rewarding task of introducing a new generation of English readers to Heine's tragic but wonderfully vigorous and vivid late poetry. —S.S. Prawer, Times Literary Supplement, 28 Sept. - 4 Oct. 1990
7. But the mayor showed considerable political dexterity in the days following the fire, taking care to distance himself from on-site decisions while accepting full responsibility for the bombing itself. He made himself available to reporters, met with people from the fire-ravaged neighborhood, and was gracious enough not to blame subordinates. —Amy Wilentz, Time, 27 May 1985

Origin of DEXTERITY

Middle French or Latin; Middle French dexterité, from Latin dexteritat-, dexteritas, from dexter (see dexterous)

First Known Use: 1518

Related to DEXTERITY

Synonyms: adroitness, cleverness, finesse, sleight

Antonyms: awkwardness, clumsiness, gaucheness, gawkiness, gawkishness, gracelessness, ham-handedness, heavy-handedness, klutziness, ungainliness

Related Words: ability, aptitude, capability, capacity, faculty, knack, prowess, talent; competence, competency, efficiency, expertise, know-how, proficiency; ingeniousness, ingenuity, resourcefulness; savvy, sharpness, shrewdness; artfulness, artifice, caginess (also cageyness), canniness, craft, craftiness, cunning, cunningness, deviousness, foxiness, guile, slickness, slyness, sneakiness, subtleness, wiliness

Near Antonyms: inadequacy, incompetence, incompetency, ineptitude, ineptness; brainlessness, denseness, density, doltishness, dopiness, dullness (also dulness), dumbness, fatuity, foolishness, mindlessness, obtuseness, senselessness, simpleness, slowness, stupidity, stupidness, witlessness

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Rhymes with DEXTERITY

alterity, asperity, austerity, celerity, legerity, posterity, prosperity, severity, sincerity, temerity