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
Expect crisp shots into the corner of the net as well as deft assists.
—
Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 June 2025
The filmmaker’s unhurried approach helps build tension for Natchez’s deft crescendo.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025
Brewmaster Roger Davis has a deft hand with hops, and his Faction Pale Ale is quite good, too, but the Penske File, a West Coast pale ale, is especially delicious.
—Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 17 June 2025
Mileage will also vary for the bickering chemistry between stars John Krasinski and Natalie Portman, though deft supporting turns inject welcome flashes of unpredictability into this mostly paint-by-numbers affair.
—Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deft
Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 June 2025
The filmmaker’s unhurried approach helps build tension for Natchez’s deft crescendo.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025
Brewmaster Roger Davis has a deft hand with hops, and his Faction Pale Ale is quite good, too, but the Penske File, a West Coast pale ale, is especially delicious.
—Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 17 June 2025
Mileage will also vary for the bickering chemistry between stars John Krasinski and Natalie Portman, though deft supporting turns inject welcome flashes of unpredictability into this mostly paint-by-numbers affair.
—Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 22 May 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
-
And there was also skillful attention to the right marketing and distribution details.—
Andrew Tobias,
Vulture,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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While advanced data analytics can flag some of these anomalies, a skilled negotiator with full market visibility can go deeper.—
Eric Steele,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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Despite being made by skilled artisans on the Sicilian coast and designed in Sydney, the U.S. market is already one of its main drivers, its founder and interior designer Isabella Wilde said.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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This is the masterful alchemy of the Lazy CF Ranch outdoor furniture line, where utility meets heirloom-quality fine art.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
2 July 2025
-
Don’t ever doubt theater’s ability to spin a masterful tale out of unusual material.—
David Lyman,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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The Residence starred Uzo Aduba as quirky detective Cordelia Cupp, who uses her cunning intellect and obsessive bird-watching abilities to crack otherwise unsolvable cases.—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
2 July 2025
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As for steps that could be taken in the nineteenth century, Lyell managed to invent a cunning way to determine the relative age of geological strata.—
Lewis Hyde,
Harpers Magazine,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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Guests can pick up housemade breads, rotisserie chicken, and delicate pastries made in partnership with Healdsburg’s Quail & Condor.—
Keyla Vasconcellos,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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The designer’s use of color is also about delicate balances.—
Ugonnaora Owoh,
Essence,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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The touch screen, microphone, and stylus meant even those not dexterous enough for the typical shooters could find games perfect for them.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
Jesse Nelson, store manager at Family Tree Nursery in Shawnee, shared some expert advice for local gardeners on how to keep your annuals healthy when things get hot.—
Tammy Ljungblad,
Kansas City Star,
9 July 2025
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However, such expert predictions should be taken with a grain of salt, as researchers have consistently been surprised by the rapid pace of AI capability advancement.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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Light, clever, and just leftfield enough to feel like a proper find.—
Lela London,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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Dubno’s novel sounds equally thoughtful and nasty, clever and juicy and full of great drama.—
Literary Hub
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deft. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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