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 The author of the series bears the same curiosity, quick wit, and linguistic dexterity as the younger man who wrote Zone One and 2006’s messy farce, Apex Hides the Hurt. — Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026 This can improve your dexterity and coordination, as well as the strength and flexibility in your toes and feet. — Jennifer Klump, Verywell Health, 17 July 2026 In his prime, his shows were unforgettable displays of verbal dexterity and abundant charm. — Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2026 Sea Rangers offer a Swiss Army knife’s dexterity, pursuing government contracts across the European Union and United Kingdom to tackle the tedium of climate compliance and the drudgery of clearing those backlogs. — Richard Morgan, Time, 29 June 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
  • Iran’s proxies in the region, the Houthis, have since blockaded another strait – the Bab-al-Mandeb – challenging Saudi Arabia’s ability to export oil through that alternate route.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Both countries are investing heavily in technologies such as enhanced stealth, artificial intelligence, advanced networking, and the ability to operate alongside autonomous drones.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of ability
Noun
  • Yes, he was outplayed by veteran defensive tackle Zach Sieler on the final play of Friday’s practice but overall Proctor showed good feet, good agility and was solid in pass protection.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Despite its size and power, the Q9 is intended to offer the agility of a much smaller sedan or wagon due to its adaptive air suspension, which comes standard.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 July 2026
Definition of agility
Noun
  • Goldman Sachs ' dealmaking prowess may grab all the glory, but the biggest driver of growth last quarter came from the daily-grind of equities trading.
    — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Taiwan's manufacturing prowess is critical, as all major platform developers rely on its expertise for producing AI components and systems.
    — Russell Flannery, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of prowess
Noun
  • Shawn Vanderhoven is a partner at The Wiseman Group, a thought leadership and consulting firm working with many of the biggest and brightest companies in the S&P and focusing on developing a leader's ability to fully utilize their people’s talent.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The community came together Wednesday to wish the young talent good luck at a send-off celebration and pizza party.
    — Allen Devlin, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of talent
Noun
  • Researchers found that former residents' new local elementary schools have 4 to 8% lower proficiency in both math and reading on California standardized tests.
    — Tim Fang, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • The Eagles’ proficiency in the draft afforded them defensive dominance at a discount.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of proficiency
Noun
  • Guler has always been singled out by the club as one of the cornerstones of their project, for bringing technical finesse to a team full of physicality and for his special understanding with Kylian Mbappe.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • All politicians pander, but the best of them do it with some finesse.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
Definition of finesse
Noun
  • Interrogations into rabbit vampirism aside, Bunnicula compelled me most because its narrator is a dog—one who, despite his aptitude for writing, cannot otherwise communicate with people.
    — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
  • Mox shoved Rick Knox, who still didn’t have the guts or aptitude to call for a disqualification.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of aptitude
Noun
  • Each model creates different expectations about competence, autonomy, trust, supervision, and accountability.
    — Keith Ferrazzi, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • An executive who only feeds a system curated evidence of their own competence has built a mirror, not an advisor.
    — Samuel Rodrigues, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 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 6 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of dexterity for Spanish Speakers

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