1
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability
a luthier whose deft craftsmanship is prized by violinists the world over
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dextrous
skillful with the hands
the deft jeweler quickly attached the diamond to its mount on the gold band
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deft
Briskets, though, require something of a deft touch.
—
Chris Morris, Fortune, 3 July 2025
Elevating his game, thus, required a deft change in creative strategy.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
In language as deft and muscular as Rosa’s team, Drexler captures the scent of the blood and the resin, every wisecrack and sob story, every flake of talc and gob of spit, every pimple and blackhead on the lady wrestlers’ thighs.
—Lauren Elkin, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The deft tonal shifts, nuanced storytelling, and unvarnished performances announce the arrival of a riveting actor and filmmaker.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for deft
Chris Morris, Fortune, 3 July 2025
Elevating his game, thus, required a deft change in creative strategy.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
In language as deft and muscular as Rosa’s team, Drexler captures the scent of the blood and the resin, every wisecrack and sob story, every flake of talc and gob of spit, every pimple and blackhead on the lady wrestlers’ thighs.
—Lauren Elkin, New York Times, 20 May 2025
The deft tonal shifts, nuanced storytelling, and unvarnished performances announce the arrival of a riveting actor and filmmaker.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for deft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deft
Adjective
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But despite those skillful trappings, the story soon feels ponderous.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
11 July 2025
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And there was also skillful attention to the right marketing and distribution details.—
Andrew Tobias,
Vulture,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
Many of these apprentices were not skilled tradesmen.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
22 July 2025
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The same is true of pickleball, where a skilled player with the right paddle can cause problems for an opponent.—
Martin Cizmar,
Wired News,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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Beyond their records, Ali and Usyk share other similarities, such as brilliant footwork, masterful defense and an Einstein-level boxing IQ.—
Anthony Stitt,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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Known for his signature visual style and masterful tension-building in crime stories, Kim now turns his lens to the glamorous yet cutthroat world of K-Pop, exploring the fierce desires and ambitions that drive it.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
Honest Abe is forced to scheme, relying on grit and cunning to win the votes to abolish slavery.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
4 July 2025
-
Of all the acts, though, Sudanese American vocalist Dua Saleh was the most subdued, swaying between heart-fluttering falsettos and cunning raps.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Tasters enjoyed Canada Dry’s balance of flavors, noting that its delicate citrus played well with a sharp bitter note on the back of their tongues.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 July 2025
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For instance, delicate fabrics like wool, silk, or linen will likely have different washing requirements than white cotton garments.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
By creating a fuller picture which centers Medusa in her own story, Hynes creates a more dexterous Medusa, one imbued with more agency and less tragedy.—
Irenosen Okojie
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
-
King has a blogger’s punch and an essayist’s analysis—her dexterous writing is intelligent, observant, and very, very funny.—
Literary Hub
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
The plaintiffs are also asking Battaglia to strike the testimony of the county’s expert six witnesses.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 July 2025
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Following the hollowing-out of the nation’s scientific infrastructure through deep funding cuts and the firing of federal scientists, the executive order is an attempt to rewrite the rules of how our expert bureaucracy operates.—
David Michaels,
The Atlantic,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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Olympia’s ex-husband, Julian (Jason Ritter), the son of the firm’s head (Beau Bridges), is intrigued by Matty and her clever skills.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
15 July 2025
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The bar is a buzzy and boozy affair from 5 to 6 p.m. daily, where guests and locals gather in a ritualistic ceremony to visit and try some of the clever cocktails (like the Tropical Storm and Drunken Pimento) for which Ooshan has become known.—
Paula Conway,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deft. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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