DEFTLY Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

deftly

adverb

Definition of deftly

as in masterfully

in a skillful or expert manner the company spokesperson deftly sidestepped the investigative reporter's questions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 deftly Throughout her career, Simon has deftly taken on fraught historical or political baggage but always in a way that prioritizes the emotional core of the material. — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026 Yet Seghers deftly exposes the insecurity, loneliness, and longing that hide behind masculinist poses. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 The first half focuses on the early entrepreneurial years, deftly incorporating archival footage with the usual talking heads. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 Oct. 2026 Matching my best safari sightings over the years, the sight of a mother helping her calf deftly navigate the mighty Zambezi and clamber up the muddy banks moves me to tears. — Charukesi Ramadurai, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026 The British Film Institute chair has continued to deftly straddle two enormous jobs in European film and TV. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026 A couple of those are easily forecast, but the crucial one is fiendishly spring-loaded, deftly shifting the stakes of the whole enterprise, and testing Mark’s integrity both as a man and as a politician. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 The blind man nudged the ferrule of his cane into the bulk of the sleeping figure, sidestepped him deftly, and moved on to the end of the block, a stoplight, heavy traffic, cyclists, big scary trucks. — Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026 Even the way his fingers operate, which now pick so deftly at the guitar, could be impacted. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deftly

Adverb

Ahluwalia x Puma Blending the designer’s Indian-Nigerian culture with Puma’s legendary sportswear designs, this partnership masterfully resulted in a colorful, chic athleisure capsule.

— Virginia Corneli, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
The Soundcore Select 4 Go pairs an adventure-proof IP67 design with exceptional 20-hour battery life masterfully.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of masterfully

Adverb

When daily life can feel quite bruising and fractious, documentaries skillfully encourage us to let our guard down and connect with real-life stories and people… sometimes challenging, often invigorating, and always meaningful.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Baseball serves as a test platform for these underlying capabilities, with dexterous manipulation, the ability to handle objects skillfully and reliably, remaining the larger objective.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of skillfully

Adverb

His bed, once artfully tussled, is a feat of military-tight corners.

— Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026
While posing artfully in the store’s shop window, Klara catches the eye of Josie (Mia Tharia), who persuades her mother Chrissie (Amy Adams) to buy her as a companion.

— Damon Wise, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of artfully

Adverb

What makes the guest list truly striking is its refusal to stay neatly within the lines of traditional fashion.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Although System of a Down is often grouped with the nu metal bands that dominated heavy music at the time, including Korn and Limp Bizkit, Malakian never saw the band as fitting neatly into any genre.

— Alex Distefano, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of neatly

Adverb

The overtones of social significance are adroitly handled and make real sense in an era of tragic international quarrels.

— THR Staff, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2026
Rams architects Les Snead and Sean McVay can still adroitly motivate a player without pressing too hard.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026

Definition of adroitly

Adverb

Kelela expertly navigated this conversation while promoting her immersive New Avatar, which surveys indie rock, shoegaze and grunge from an R&B vantage point.

— Kyle Denis, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026
Setting the shifting moods expertly is Michael Giacchino’s score that nicely avoids the clichés of the genre(s) while still honoring them.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of expertly

Adverb

The rest of the filmmaking, too, is content to coast at a lower difficulty setting, from the proficient but anonymously taupe lensing by master DP Robert Elswit to an untested ensemble of ever-watchable actors playing capably to type.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
And there was also a favorable response on Saturday to Amazon/MGM’s Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, an action-thriller led capably by Mahershala Ali.

— Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of capably

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deft

deftly

deftness

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“Deftly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deftly. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of deftly

adverb

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