deftly

adverb

Definition of deftlynext
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 The third-year quarterback has deftly handled the pressure from Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 In a variation on her character from Parasite, Cho deftly underplays Yi-je’s insensitivity as another woman projecting a blithe lack of awareness of her privilege. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026 So, too, do the antics of his estate manager (a buoyant Sam Adegoke), always concocting money-making schemes, and the wide-eyed adoration of the girl next door (Amelia Mason, deftly balancing naïveté with seductiveness), who wants to save him. — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026 Throughout the first season of Furious, creator Elizabeth Meriwether and company deftly explored the idea of female vengeance, all while making Catherine into a kind of antihero for the ages. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026 Not to mention, Cook was a supply-chain master with an ability to deftly navigate the often choppy political waters. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026 Steeped in classic 1960s soul, the sisters deftly trade off on lead and harmony vocals. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026 That concision is evident in an almost brutally economical edit and in sharp, precise writing which provides narrative elements and deftly sketches character before moving busily on. — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026 Aristide deftly brings her parallel storylines ever-closer until lives converge in the satisfying finale. — Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deftly
  1. masterfully
  2. skillfully
  3. well
  4. artfully
  5. neatly
  6. adroitly
  7. expertly
  8. capably
Adverb
  • Turning for home, jockey Manny Franco masterfully guided Leading Change off the rail and into the clear outside the still leading Napoleon.
    — Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Yet Parton masterfully stayed out of every fight in the culture wars, preaching love, philanthropy, mentorship and tolerance until her dying breath.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of masterfully
Adverb
  • Comedy lends itself perfectly to this, and our writers and director have skillfully women in elements that help achieve this aim.
    — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The film skillfully repurposes its clips and is not above snark.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of skillfully
Adverb
  • Carrick knew, though, that his team should have managed the game better after Mbeumo’s goal.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Novo Nordisk is testing whether wastewater from pharmaceutical production can be cleaned well enough to be used again in the manufacturing process, potentially cutting the company’s water consumption by half.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of well
Adverb
  • The rear view resolves nicely with two tidily tucked exhaust tips and artfully sculpted surfacing.
    — Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026
  • This shift inspires a fresh collection of cocktail ideas, artfully blending vibrant summer fruits like pineapple, peach, and grapefruit with autumnal notes of cranberry and maraschino cherry.
    — John Kell, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of artfully
Adverb
  • The woman’s head of auburn curls, so neatly assembled and without a hair out of place, was flung to the side and her cheek, powdered with rouge, was now as red as a sunset.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Looking at his pizza chart from last season, Mbaye’s low cross volume (five out of 99) but high link-up play (86 out of 99) suggest an inside forward who prefers to combine neatly with team-mates before attacking the box.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of neatly
Adverb
  • 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
  • Shrines, Puzzles, and a Sprawling World The Adventures of Elliot adroitly fuses sharp combat with intricate puzzle-solving, further cementing the Zelda feel.
    — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 18 May 2026
Definition of adroitly
Adverb
  • On the streets of New York, Zoey Deutch expertly pulled off a purple cardigan with red pants, while Dua Lipa rocked a head-to-toe Ferragamo ensemble at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, wearing a purple dress with red mules and an east-west bag.
    — Elise Fabre, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2026
  • In no particular order, Elsinore darts in and out of various phases of Charleson’s life during this period, but Stone manages the tonal balance expertly.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of expertly
Adverb
  • This is a budget loadout, but the Intel Core i3 processor is a solid little performer that capably manages Web browsing, spreadsheets, document creation and more without breaking a sweat.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Bryant capably replaced Will Campbell as the starting left tackle for one practice, and continues to be solid in 1-on-1 pass rush.
    — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of capably

Browse Nearby Words

deft
deftly
deftness
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Cite this Entry

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

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