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

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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of deftly The filling is silky and rich, deftly spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, and tastes unmistakably of pumpkin. — Rick Martinez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026 And when an adult in the room was needed to drive discussions on race relations or other serious issues, Johnson handled that deftly, too. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026 There is a reason this movie is a classic, so often imitated and honored by other directors; Kubrick deftly marries the supernatural with the everyday, just as King does in his novels. — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026 Rarely does a pop album so deftly lay bare the trickery of pop albums, while remaining a compelling pop album in its own right. — Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026 The trick has been deftly weaving in heavy material without devolving into preaching or stunts. — Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2026 Pawlikowski is also the director of the 2013 Ida, as well 2018’s Cold War, pictures that, like this one, deftly balance postwar Eastern Bloc realities with the truth that all humans strive for connection and belonging. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 23 Oct. 2026 John Steinbeck wrote Cathy Ames, the antagonist of his novel East of Eden, as the embodiment of original sin, and in Zoe Kazan’s Netflix adaptation, Florence Pugh deftly channels the character’s ambition and cynicism. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 Just about all of their artistry is exerted on the script, which deftly intercuts between the time frames, advancing their plots in episodes that, though tersely dramatic, are superficial in their efficiency. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deftly

Adverb

Rosalía had no need for a flat shoe, and masterfully walked through the subway grates with her statement high heels while showing off her toned legs with a minimalist all-black minidress.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026
Videos shared by Nevada’s parents on Instagram show the precocious dynamo masterfully weaving between taller players and delivering powerful kicks driving the ball into the goal.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of masterfully

Adverb

Tia, on her end, handled the ambush skillfully, parrying jabs without raising her voice to prevent Wendy from having any opening to feign victimization.

— Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2026
Yes, Fielder and Oppenheim are deliberately (and skillfully) thwarting those expectations, but to what end?

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of skillfully

Adverb

The legal defense army The Left developed a legal advocacy network to support street agitators well before 2020.

— Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 9 Nov. 2026
Gauthier extended his goals streak to six games and his points streak to a career best-tying eight games with his fourth multi-goal performance during this electric sequence, including three of his four career hat tricks.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026

Definition of well

Adverb

In the exclusive first-look clip above, O’Connor artfully grapples with his longing to return to music, hugging a past version of himself playing the violin as his face bleeds from a boxing injury.

— Ellise Shafer, Variety, 28 Oct. 2026
High school student Bella Dubrovsky beamed proudly next to her tray of artfully frosted sugar cookies.

— Laina Gustafson, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of artfully

Adverb

Its hidden zipper and interior corner ties help keep everything neatly in place, while the warm camel hue pairs beautifully with the deeper plum of the blanket.

— Jacorey Moon, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2026
Brands tend to lead with features and benefits because those fit neatly on a slide.

— JD Barker, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 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

Though the signature dumplings, chor muang—chicken and peanut filling encased in delicate butterfly pea flower dough—are the star, don’t overlook the noodle dishes, which are slurpable, expertly sauced, and so soft as to be almost buttery.

— Ali Domrongchai, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Nov. 2026
How to Style It This fall look from Holmes expertly shows how to style a silk midi skirt for daytime.

— Melony Forcier, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of expertly

Adverb

Filling the shoes of the legendary Mel Blanc at Looney Tunes was no small task, but the three-time Emmy winner did so capably for years.

— Tom Tapp, Deadline, 25 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of capably

Browse Nearby Words

deft

deftly

deftness

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“Deftly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deftly. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of deftly

adverb

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