dexterity

noun

dek-ˈster-ə-tē How to pronounce dexterity (audio)
Definition of dexteritynext
1
as in ability
mental skill or quickness the ambassador showed great dexterity in his handling of the touchy situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in agility
ease and grace in physical activity the juggler needed lots of dexterity in order to keep all five balls in the air at the same time

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 dexterity His goal late against the Leafs was due and showed his hands and dexterity for a big man taking a puck off the wall and patting it in at the post. — Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 The patented fingertip design is rolled with no seams and provides two layers of protection without limiting your dexterity. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026 The system, currently a proof-of-concept, is designed for dexterity-intensive tasks across various industries and can be deployed on existing hardware within weeks. — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 As the attractive secretary, she is forced to fend off not only Hart’s advances (with the cheery but firm dexterity of a woman with no alternative and many years of practice) but also the chilly scorn of her female colleagues. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dexterity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dexterity
  1. ability
  2. agility
  3. prowess
  4. talent
  5. proficiency
  6. finesse
  7. aptitude
  8. competence
Noun
  • Oil is big over there, and the two sides are targeting fuel operations, trying to destroy the war-making ability of the other.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Fele Martínez has this incredible ability to be funny without playing comedy.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of ability
Noun
  • To navigate this acceleration, leadership must shift from rigid hierarchies to horizontal agility—partnering across boundaries to follow the fluid flow of value.
    — Stephanie Kramer, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The original 1960s cars had legendary status dominating the Monte Carlo Rally, outmaneuvering heavier machinery across icy mountain passes with lightweight agility rather than brute off-road hardware.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of agility
Noun
  • But the tireless churn of his storytelling, picking up and depositing little clues of what came before, is the mark of an auteur who has barely scratched the surface of his prowess.
    — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The category allows De Beers London to demonstrate its technical prowess while cultivating relationships with its most discerning clients.
    — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of prowess
Noun
  • Games Can’t Gamble on Talent Opportunities to develop emerging talent are becoming harder to find, particularly in video games, van Beek said.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Some from the more traditional world struggled to understand a TV and film production company that began life as a music video producer and doubled as a commercials maker and talent house for directors.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of talent
Noun
  • The flight simulator focuses on pilot proficiency, while the maintenance trainer is intended to develop the technical skills needed to keep aircraft available for missions.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
  • But technical proficiency with AI is only part of the equation.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of proficiency
Noun
  • But other horse disciplines depend more on finesse and control.
    — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Technically speaking, Amber turns in a pretty stellar week-one cha-cha, and the notes from the judges are mostly about finesse and refinement.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of finesse
Noun
  • The Duke then entered the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, where his aptitude for foreign languages was recognized with a prize.
    — Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Naturally, his work at Celine has now been put in conversation with hers, especially because both designers share an aptitude for creating clothes real people want to wear–and, therefore, many of the same fans.
    — Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of aptitude
Noun
  • The playoffs are proof of competence, good scouting and style of play that leans more on fundamentals than home runs.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2026
  • What other research is being done A recent study examined whether AI models tend to infer characteristics such as trustworthiness or competence from faces.
    — Ashique KhudaBukhsh, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of competence

Browse Nearby Words

dewy-eyed
dexterity
dexterous
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Cite this Entry

“Dexterity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dexterity. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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