1
as in agility
ease and grace in physical activity
the effortless deftness with which he plays the piano
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in skill
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something
with deftness and aplomb she managed to keep the bickering relatives apart for the duration of the reception
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 deftness
The term implies godlike deftness and speed but also a certain impersonal coldness — skill at the expense of passion.
—
Justin Davidson, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Her willingness to handle tough conversations coupled with the deftness to maneuver through them productively.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2026
This sky-high figure indicates the display's deftness at producing deep blacks alongside bright whites, resulting in improved image quality in both light and dark scenes.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 7 Mar. 2026
Ridge’s equal deftness at the high end and the low is one of many apparent incongruities that the winery has managed to balance comfortably.
—Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Feb. 2026
The deftness required to nail the relentless 16th-note melodies grows more transparent when unadorned.
—Aly Eleanor, Pitchfork, 19 Feb. 2026
Justin Davidson, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Her willingness to handle tough conversations coupled with the deftness to maneuver through them productively.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2026
This sky-high figure indicates the display's deftness at producing deep blacks alongside bright whites, resulting in improved image quality in both light and dark scenes.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 7 Mar. 2026
Ridge’s equal deftness at the high end and the low is one of many apparent incongruities that the winery has managed to balance comfortably.
—Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Feb. 2026
The deftness required to nail the relentless 16th-note melodies grows more transparent when unadorned.
—Aly Eleanor, Pitchfork, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deftness
Noun
-
Acuff ranked fourth among the five in lane agility, fourth in shuttle run, fifth in standing vertical, and fourth in max vertical.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
13 May 2026
-
The junior agility team traveling to Germany this summer is entirely self-funded.—
Tanya Babbar,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The two-time Mirrorball winner was seen leaping high into the air and showed off her skills by performing a series of tricks including frontflips and backflips.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
This will be followed by a final period in Florence to learn the technique and historical evolution of egg tempera, to acquire ancient handweaving skills and expand her knowledge of its applications in the ecclesiastic context.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deftness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deftness. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
