dexterity

noun

dek-ˈster-ə-tē How to pronounce dexterity (audio)
Definition of dexteritynext
1
as in ability
mental skill or quickness the ambassador showed great dexterity in his handling of the touchy situation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in agility
ease and grace in physical activity the juggler needed lots of dexterity in order to keep all five balls in the air at the same time

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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 dexterity His goal late against the Leafs was due and showed his hands and dexterity for a big man taking a puck off the wall and patting it in at the post. — Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 The patented fingertip design is rolled with no seams and provides two layers of protection without limiting your dexterity. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026 The system, currently a proof-of-concept, is designed for dexterity-intensive tasks across various industries and can be deployed on existing hardware within weeks. — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 As the attractive secretary, she is forced to fend off not only Hart’s advances (with the cheery but firm dexterity of a woman with no alternative and many years of practice) but also the chilly scorn of her female colleagues. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dexterity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dexterity
  1. ability
  2. agility
  3. prowess
  4. talent
  5. proficiency
  6. finesse
  7. aptitude
  8. competence
Noun
  • The ability for anyone to generate strategy, code, or creative work in seconds effectively filled in the moats built on blitzscaling overnight.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • This gives voters the ability to reelect or change the majority of the City Commission every two years.
    — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of ability
Noun
  • Revised front and rear anti-roll bars are also on board to enhance agility.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Tesla Motors Performance is the base version of the Roadster, with active aerodynamics and the aforementioned suction system for track-level speed and agility.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of agility
Noun
  • But now, some of the key data centers at the heart of its technical prowess have been knocked out by Ukrainian drone attacks in the 4 1/2-year-old full-scale invasion, suffering damage that could take a long time to repair.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Chinese medical equipment makers are increasingly challenging US, European, and Japanese competitors in hospitals around the world, extending Beijing’s technological prowess to yet another industry.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of prowess
Noun
  • But the talent for going viral that helped Ramaswamy gain a national profile has proved less successful this election cycle in Ohio.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The right person would ably balance greenlight authority with maintaining Netflix’s biggest talent relationships.
    — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of talent
Noun
  • Cheung said the training is intended to teach students that intimate examinations require more than medical knowledge and technical proficiency.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • His proficiency, buoyed by his expensive taste and skill in daisy-chaining images together, got his foot in the door of the indie-rap revitalization.
    — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of proficiency
Noun
  • But other horse disciplines depend more on finesse and control.
    — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Technically speaking, Amber turns in a pretty stellar week-one cha-cha, and the notes from the judges are mostly about finesse and refinement.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of finesse
Noun
  • The Duke then entered the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, where his aptitude for foreign languages was recognized with a prize.
    — Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Naturally, his work at Celine has now been put in conversation with hers, especially because both designers share an aptitude for creating clothes real people want to wear–and, therefore, many of the same fans.
    — Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of aptitude
Noun
  • Yi-ji, whose competence wins his respect, puts that view to the test.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Calm leaders project presence, competence and confidence so that others can move from their reactive brains to their response brains.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of competence

Browse Nearby Words

dewy-eyed
dexterity
dexterous
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Cite this Entry

“Dexterity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dexterity. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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