1
as in agility
ease and grace in physical activity
the effortless deftness with which he plays the piano
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of deftness
Learner Tien, with guidance from 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang, has the kind of game — sweeping, angled groundstrokes and deftness of touch — that should suit clay, but he is still getting used to its secret codes.
—
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 25 May 2026
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
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
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 25 May 2026
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
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
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The robot’s motions appear increasingly fluid as the session progresses, suggesting that the exercises are intended to test not only strength but also agility, reflexes, and real-time adaptation, reports Techeblog.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
27 May 2026
-
Meet the most badass Dachshund Every sport needs a bad boy, and that extends to the world of canine agility competitions.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Smart toys that can directly respond to children and their environments have proliferated in recent years, offering parents a new way to teach their children important skills.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
In a market where AI is commoditizing technical skills, top-tier marketers are looking for environments that value strategic autonomy and intellectual rigor.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deftness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deftness. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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