Synonym Chooser

How is the word adroit different from other adjectives like it?

The words deft and dexterous are common synonyms of adroit. While all three words mean "ready and skilled in physical movement," 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

When might deft be a better fit than adroit?

Although the words deft and adroit have much in common, deft emphasizes lightness, neatness, and sureness of touch or handling.

a surgeon's deft manipulation of the scalpel

In what contexts can dexterous take the place of adroit?

The words dexterous and adroit can be used in similar contexts, but dexterous implies expertness with consequent facility and quickness in manipulation.

unrolled the sleeping bag with a dexterous toss

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 adroit The fashion house is known for its adroit use of off-kilter patterns, which, in the skilled hands of Risso, convey a cerebral, never-twee aesthetic that is no less reflected in this new line. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2023 These mother-and-son exchanges rinse and repeat in the first stages of the storytelling, under the adroit direction of Rob Lutfy, mingling tension and absurdity. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2023 Six months ago, his historic landslide victory was widely lauded, viewed as the triumph of a politically adroit change-maker whose centrist policies had swept him to power. Dan Bilefsky, New York Times, 7 May 2023 The Premonitions Bureau, an adroit debut from the New Yorker staff writer Sam Knight, draws us into a world not-that-far-gone in which psychic phenomena were yet untamed by science and uncanny sensations still whispered of the supernatural, of cosmic secrets. Ian Beacock, The New Republic, 25 Aug. 2022 See All Example Sentences for adroit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adroit
Adjective
  • Kirk Baxter’s arrhythmic cutting is designed around quicksilver shifts that, along with Barry Ackroyd’s restlessly attentive, mostly handheld camerawork, allow Bigelow to redirect our attention with virtuoso command.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Nani was an exciting, skillful winger, and in the early part of his career in England, a one-time housemate of storied compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo.
    Patrick Snell, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The animation is flawless and the voice cast, including Dom DeLuise and Derek Jacobi, is note-perfect, but NIMH is most notable for its skillful blend of adventure yarn and emotional family drama, a combination rendered with expert care.
    Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Seville is known for having excellent regular-season races and running masterful rounds in major championships.
    Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Hijabs Off is a masterful special that Johnson’s career has been building toward for years.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Our expert reviews of JBL headphones consistently praises the brand for balancing strong sound with everyday value, and this pair fits right into that category.
    Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.
    September 11, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • At breakfast, expect Okinawan-style waffles with sweet red beans, Vietnamese pho, and delicate local tofu.
    Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The rising sun turned the snow a delicate pink, and beads of frost glittered like diamonds on the trees.
    Jack Atcheson Sr. as told to Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The robot is hydraulically powered, capable of lifting up to 441 pounds (200 kg) across both arms, and features dexterous manipulators for precise handling of tools and materials.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Cleaning looked mundane compared with dexterous manipulation.
    Ashis Ghosh, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Seth Rogen plays a Hollywood studio head torn between making artistic films and movies that will be a surefire commercial success, like a Kool-Aid movie.
    Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Patricia Astorga, the artistic director and founder of DanzArts, said that people who were not Mexican could come to the celebration and see the culture and the dance styles of different regions of Mexico.
    Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • His deft combination of stand-up and live theater is unparalleled in the solo genre.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Among its many other deft and occasionally very blunt messages, the film, directed by Australian David Michod, definitely telegraphs the hey-get-a-load-of-this-serious-actress-here-ladies-and-gentlemen transmission.
    Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Adroit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adroit. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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