as in masterfully
in a skillful or expert manner
the company spokesperson deftly sidestepped the investigative reporter's questions
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Recent Examples of deftly
Period ambiance is kept low-key, mostly relegated to deftly chosen golden oldies (including a closing Sinatra track) that abet Kim Hong-jip and Lee Jin-hee’s original score.
—
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
And there’s the rub that Predators so deftly explores.
—Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
Anderson keeps all the parts moving deftly, with the help of cinematographer Michael Bauman and editor Andy Jurgensen.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
Tradition and opulence deftly swirl within its sumptuous interior—replete with crystal chandeliers, statuary, antiques and marble galore.
—Laura Manske, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The book deftly balances a sparkling romance with a layered exploration of family, history and community.
—Jamie Harrow, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
On third-and-11 early in the fourth quarter, Jones deftly threw a pass over the middle that hit Jennings in stride.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025
Even as tutor modes are refined and improved, students have to actively select that mode and, for now, also have to play along, deftly providing context and guiding the chatbot away from worthless, low-level questions or sycophancy.
—Brian W. Stone, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
Riefenstahl deftly undertakes the type of media autopsy usually reserved for the most fiendish of true crime cover-ups.
—Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
And there’s the rub that Predators so deftly explores.
—Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
Anderson keeps all the parts moving deftly, with the help of cinematographer Michael Bauman and editor Andy Jurgensen.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
Tradition and opulence deftly swirl within its sumptuous interior—replete with crystal chandeliers, statuary, antiques and marble galore.
—Laura Manske, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The book deftly balances a sparkling romance with a layered exploration of family, history and community.
—Jamie Harrow, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
On third-and-11 early in the fourth quarter, Jones deftly threw a pass over the middle that hit Jennings in stride.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025
Even as tutor modes are refined and improved, students have to actively select that mode and, for now, also have to play along, deftly providing context and guiding the chatbot away from worthless, low-level questions or sycophancy.
—Brian W. Stone, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
Riefenstahl deftly undertakes the type of media autopsy usually reserved for the most fiendish of true crime cover-ups.
—Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deftly
Adverb
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There are multiple styles too, like those in which the handles swapped leather for shiny metals, adding a contemporary twist and masterfully pairing with the models’ midi skirts, playful outerwear clad in primary colors, and preppy tailoring.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
30 Sep. 2025
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The collector sought letters, manuscripts and research by Turner's predecessors, contemporaries, champions and even an art student who could masterfully copy his pieces.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
26 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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The charcoal drawing Anoma Kole Kole, 2023–24, for instance, skillfully weaves a blueprint of colonial infrastructure with images of the Africans who built transit systems.—
Edna Bonhomme,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Hauge skillfully evaded Porro for both of his goals.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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These unpressurized parts of a plane lack oxygen and can reach temperatures well below freezing, sometimes to minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
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The slow start that Mayfield is alluding to has to do with the Buccaneers only scoring two field goals through the first half, and scoring their first touchdown well into the third quarter.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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But they are not often confronted so artfully.—
Harpers Magazine,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The only scuffing—on shop doors, on the walls of the Métro—had been artfully painted on to make the scenery look appropriately aged.—
Bianca Bosker,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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The star winger held off a defender before bringing a long pass down neatly with her first touch, and then turning to play a pass to Zaneratto in on goal.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
27 Sep. 2025
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Despite being less tightly curated and neatly packaged as the first game, Hades II is an absolute masterstroke.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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In this case, the characters’ back stories are knitted together with an impactful range of lyrics that Swindley has mined from the country music canon, repeatedly adroitly interweaving song lyrics and dialogue.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
4 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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Long nozzles shoot out fiberglass, which is then chopped into one-inch pieces; following behind the person wielding the nozzle is someone else with a tool that looks like a paint roller, which blends the resin and fiberglass expertly to remove any surface disruptions.—
Kristin Shaw,
Popular Science,
24 Sep. 2025
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From Aero to strength to yoga, the classes are all well-structured and expertly led.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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But Burrow is sidelined for weeks after toe surgery, and the Broncos will see Browning in his stead on Monday night, a longtime backup who capably filled in for Burrow over seven starts in 2023.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
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Vince, a recovering addict with a scraggly beard, starts too grimy for the actor to capably sell.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deftly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deftly. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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