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deftly

adverb

Definition of deftlynext
as in masterfully
in a skillful or expert manner the company spokesperson deftly sidestepped the investigative reporter's questions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 deftly Hasan deftly handles political seriousness and an unfathomable history and present of war and punitive state violence against Palestinians. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026 The story also deftly draws on spirituality rooted in the Islamic tradition — a nod to Akin’s religious upbringing. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026 Set the scene On rugged John’s Island 40 minutes outside of Charleston, Auberge’s Lowcountry debut deftly centers the coastal charm of the South Carolina sea islands—the second most bioactive habitat in the world, after only the Amazon Rainforest. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026 Thorny realities deftly observed from the perspective of young characters are present in all of Cartoon Saloon’s features so far. — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026 The third-year quarterback has deftly handled the pressure from Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 So, too, do the antics of his estate manager (a buoyant Sam Adegoke), always concocting money-making schemes, and the wide-eyed adoration of the girl next door (Amelia Mason, deftly balancing naïveté with seductiveness), who wants to save him. — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026 Throughout the first season of Furious, creator Elizabeth Meriwether and company deftly explored the idea of female vengeance, all while making Catherine into a kind of antihero for the ages. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026 Not to mention, Cook was a supply-chain master with an ability to deftly navigate the often choppy political waters. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deftly
  1. masterfully
  2. skillfully
  3. well
  4. artfully
  5. neatly
  6. adroitly
  7. expertly
  8. capably
Adverb
  • The Soundcore Select 4 Go pairs an adventure-proof IP67 design with exceptional 20-hour battery life masterfully.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Turning for home, jockey Manny Franco masterfully guided Leading Change off the rail and into the clear outside the still leading Napoleon.
    — Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of masterfully
Adverb
  • Jay has always skillfully folded each turn into his larger mythology, going from drug dealer to rapper to label boss to executive with an air of inevitability, every choice subsumed into the glory of the hustle.
    — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • These nine classics skillfully keep audiences guessing while depicting different kinds of waking nightmares, making the protagonists’ traumas our own for a few entertaining hours.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of skillfully
Adverb
  • The Lake of Dreams show still feels like an oddly charming fever dream—projections, puppetry, and music best experienced from SW, Lakeside, or the aft-deck fantasy bar literally called Aft.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Thanks to its premium plant-wax blend and 100 percent natural-fiber wick, the best-selling candle burns cleanly and evenly for up to 150 hours.
    — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of well
Adverb
  • The Oscar-winning actress, who turned 57 years old on Friday, gave a styling lesson in how to artfully style sheer pieces.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026
  • And Mylette Nora’s costumes artfully conjure both the underworld and the spiritual realm.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of artfully
Adverb
  • Whole lives are neatly bound in tidy language, conveyed within the confines of a page or two.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Payment Availability Is Expanding With Digital Commerce Business activity does not always fit neatly inside traditional banking hours.
    — Karen Koehler, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of neatly
Adverb
  • Rams architects Les Snead and Sean McVay can still adroitly motivate a player without pressing too hard.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
  • Shrines, Puzzles, and a Sprawling World The Adventures of Elliot adroitly fuses sharp combat with intricate puzzle-solving, further cementing the Zelda feel.
    — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 18 May 2026
Definition of adroitly
Adverb
  • In other cases, people can still walk along Roman routes, such as the Appian Way, which features some of the original volcanic stones that the Romans expertly laid.
    — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
  • And a stellar Paulson expertly exudes snide arrogance, until Sandra breaks open entirely.
    — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of expertly
Adverb
  • And there was also a favorable response on Saturday to Amazon/MGM’s Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, an action-thriller led capably by Mahershala Ali.
    — Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 20 Sep. 2026
  • This is a budget loadout, but the Intel Core i3 processor is a solid little performer that capably manages Web browsing, spreadsheets, document creation and more without breaking a sweat.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of capably

Browse Nearby Words

deft
deftly
deftness
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Cite this Entry

“Deftly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deftly. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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