deft

adjective

ˈdeft 

: characterized by facility and skill

the photographer's deft use of lighting

the deft fingers of the trumpeter

deftly adverb

deftness

ˈdef(t)-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of deft

• virtuoso
• skillful
• masterful
• delicate
• expert
• artistic
• smooth
• adroit

Choose the Right Synonym for deft

dexterous, adroit, deft mean ready and skilled in physical movement.

dexterous implies expertness with consequent facility and quickness in manipulation.

unrolled the sleeping bag with a dexterous toss

adroit implies dexterity but usually also stresses resourcefulness or artfulness or inventiveness.

the magician's adroit response to the failure of her prop won applause

deft emphasizes lightness, neatness, and sureness of touch or handling.

a surgeon's deft manipulation of the scalpel

Examples of deft in a Sentence

The photographer is known for her deft use of lighting.

a luthier whose deft craftsmanship is prized by violinists the world over

Recent Examples on the Web

Jimmy Butler used his smarts and muscle to carve out space for tricky shots and deft passes. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026

This is pure, unsullied Sicily at its best before even the Ancient Greeks got their deft hands on the island. —Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026

Elkington, who hails from a small village near London and emigrated to the Midwest in the 1990s, brings with him a deft picking style and a grounding in European folk traditions. —Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 9 Jan. 2026

Ten minutes later, Sesko — who had scored two goals all season before tonight’s game — put United into the lead with a deft finish from a Patrick Dorgu cross. —Chris McKenna, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

perhaps continuing Middle English daffte, daft, defte "well-mannered, gentle, dull, foolish" — more at daft

Note: Rather than being derived directly from Middle English, Modern English deft may go back to an unattested Old English *gedefte (with umlaut), with a meaning "fit, ready" developing to "apt, skilfull"; the sense shift is otherwise difficult to account for, though the lack of any certain attestation of deft in the sense "skillful" before the later 16th century makes this scenario hypothetical.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for deft

• cleft
• heft
• left
• theft
• bereft

Kids Definition

deft

adjective

ˈdeft 

: quick and skillful in action

knitting with deft fingers

deftly adverb

deftness

ˈdef(t)-nəs 

noun