deft

deft

adjective

Definition of DEFT

1

accomplished with trained ability <a luthier whose deft craftsmanship is prized by violinists the world over>

Synonyms adroit, artful, bravura, deft, delicate, dexterous (also dextrous), expert, masterful, masterly, practiced (also practised), virtuoso, workmanlike

Related Words facile, smooth; artistic, creative, fancy, ingenious, neat; adept, clever, cunning; able, adequate, capable, competent

Near Antonyms awkward, clumsy, crude, klutzy; ineffective, ineffectual; incompetent, inept

Antonyms amateur, amateurish, artless, rude, unprofessional, unskillful

2

skillful with the hands <the deft jeweler quickly attached the diamond to its mount on the gold band>

Synonyms clever, cunning, deft, handy

Related Words agile, flexible, graceful, limber, lissome (also lissom), lithe, lithesome, nimble, spry; coordinated; able, adept, capable, competent, expert, habile, masterful, masterly, proficient, qualified, skilled, skillful, sure-handed; double-jointed, loose-jointed

Near Antonyms awkward, bungling, clumsy, fumbling, gauche, gawky, graceless, klutzy, rough-hewn, stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungainly, ungraceful, wooden; uncoordinated; incapable, incompetent, inept, inexpert, maladroit

Antonyms butterfingered, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, unhandy