as in masterfully
in a skillful or expert manner
the company spokesperson deftly sidestepped the investigative reporter's questions
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Recent Examples of deftly
Dev is a Formula 1 driver and is in desperate need of a PR manager, so Willow deftly steps in.
—
Literary Hub, 13 Jan. 2026
In the example below, Matty Cash is pressed and goes long to Rogers, who, surrounded by three Tottenham players, deftly cushions the ball on his chest before flicking it back to John McGinn.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Primo left the seams showing on his best beats, deftly combining chunky sample chops and simple, swinging, heavy-bag drums into herky-jerky, screw-face symphonies.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 8 Jan. 2026
But none of these enticements can conceal the absence of scripts and direction that set a distinctive mood, then deftly navigate every deliberate shift.
—Judy Berman, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
The deftly comic and ultimately searing movie won the coveted Palme d’Or, setting Panahi on course for his first true awards run.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
The ensemble comedy garnered critical praise for its steady stream of zaniness and quickly gained a reputation for deftly skewering suburban life while still maintaining a general sweetness of tone.
—Will Harris, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
Stafford has deftly utilized tight ends Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and Terrance Ferguson.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
The number of podcasts has exploded since then, and algorithms have deftly toured me around the new offerings.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
Literary Hub, 13 Jan. 2026
In the example below, Matty Cash is pressed and goes long to Rogers, who, surrounded by three Tottenham players, deftly cushions the ball on his chest before flicking it back to John McGinn.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Primo left the seams showing on his best beats, deftly combining chunky sample chops and simple, swinging, heavy-bag drums into herky-jerky, screw-face symphonies.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 8 Jan. 2026
But none of these enticements can conceal the absence of scripts and direction that set a distinctive mood, then deftly navigate every deliberate shift.
—Judy Berman, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
The deftly comic and ultimately searing movie won the coveted Palme d’Or, setting Panahi on course for his first true awards run.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
The ensemble comedy garnered critical praise for its steady stream of zaniness and quickly gained a reputation for deftly skewering suburban life while still maintaining a general sweetness of tone.
—Will Harris, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
Stafford has deftly utilized tight ends Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and Terrance Ferguson.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
The number of podcasts has exploded since then, and algorithms have deftly toured me around the new offerings.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deftly
Adverb
-
Instead, my research documented how LBJ masterfully used the questionable attacks as a persuasively powerful pretext to convince Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution by a near unanimous vote; only one senator voted against it.—
Richard Cherwitz,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
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An early architect of the cult of celebrity, Bardot masterfully harnessed the energy of the Swinging Sixties, framing herself as a free-spirited embodiment of a changing world.—
Isobel Thompson,
Vogue,
28 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
Either way, these are films that skillfully utilize the holiday to explore the human need for connection.—
Kate Stroup,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Dec. 2025
-
In the annals of moronic behavior, driving forty minutes out of your way in the middle of the night in order to secretly and skillfully cut down everybody’s favorite tree does not come up.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Adverb
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Magic Erasers work well for walls, baseboards, porcelain sinks, tubs, appliance interiors, and grout.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Just as light and breezy colors are preferred for spring and summer, warm and moody tones suit winter well, bringing a sense of cozy comfort to the home.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
No theme rings more true than in Ariel Mahler’s short film Re-Entry, a masterclass character study that artfully weaves the tender and cerebral in a tale of reconciliation with past regrets and the overwhelming power of self-love.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
24 Dec. 2025
-
Despite the rich visuals and heavy subject matter, the film itself feels subtle and restrained, the surreal plot artfully revealing itself to the viewer piece by devastating piece.—
Anastasia Sanger,
Glamour,
22 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
And not everything has to be tied up neatly in a bow.—
Emily Zemler,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Not all issues fit neatly into the affordability frame.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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The late mother of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who spent her formative years in Thailand, London and Paris, was lauded for adroitly blending Western style, Eastern traditions and her homeland’s rich textile heritage.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
2 Dec. 2025
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In this case, the characters’ back stories are knitted together with an impactful range of lyrics that Swindley has mined from the country music canon, repeatedly adroitly interweaving song lyrics and dialogue.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
4 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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Cabello paired her earrings with the boots’ hardware, while expertly mixing metals, wearing gold bracelets and rings.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
12 Jan. 2026
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In fact, Costco warehouses are expertly organized and offer a wide range of top brands, as well as their signature collection of goods under the name Kirkland Signature.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
12 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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One of Chris Grier’s best 2025 pickups as general manager before his dismissal, Strange seized the right guard job from Kion Smith, following James Daniels’ Week 1 injury, and generally performed capably.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
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The fest is now capably overseen by Nachhattar Singh Chandi, another successful businessman and longtime local who had served on the fest’s board under Matzner, with pivotal assistance from the fest’s longtime publicist and tireless champion Steven Wilson of Scenario PR.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deftly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deftly. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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