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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dexterity
In the future, intelligent systems could handle soft, flexible fabrics with human-like dexterity, enabling faster, more precise and more localized production.
—
Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 29 July 2025
An author who also performs his own work—who writes for the ear and has the dexterity to be a captivating narrator—is a special kind of entertainer.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 24 July 2025
Any political settlement of the strife in Manipur, primarily between two tribal communities, will require addressing each of their political anxieties—a feat that India’s current political culture has neither the credibility nor the political dexterity to achieve.
—Yamini Aiyar, Foreign Affairs, 23 July 2025
The kind of close-up magic on display here invites you to admire the performer’s dexterity — and to question it.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dexterity
Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 29 July 2025
An author who also performs his own work—who writes for the ear and has the dexterity to be a captivating narrator—is a special kind of entertainer.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 24 July 2025
Any political settlement of the strife in Manipur, primarily between two tribal communities, will require addressing each of their political anxieties—a feat that India’s current political culture has neither the credibility nor the political dexterity to achieve.
—Yamini Aiyar, Foreign Affairs, 23 July 2025
The kind of close-up magic on display here invites you to admire the performer’s dexterity — and to question it.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dexterity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dexterity
Noun
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At right-back, there is still no established first-choice, but Matheus Nunes is quicker and has more ability to join the attack than Rico Lewis, which was the direction the team were moving in towards the end of last season.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
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The rocket's inability to make it through an entire suborbital test flight has pushed back future program milestones, such as the challenging tasks of recovering and reusing the rocket's upper stage, and demonstrating the ability to refuel another rocket in orbit.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Todd Lyons, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) speaks to the press on the agility course at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) in Brunswick, Georgia, on August 21.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
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Maintaining explosive strength helps with agility, fall prevention, and playing recreational sports well into older age.—
Andy Fata-Chan,
CNBC,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Ivan Angulo has been the starter in the left wing position, but Spicer’s attacking prowess and ability to control possession have earned him more playing time.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Aug. 2025
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Dance Mom is an excellent example of this designer’s prowess.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Perhaps most intriguing is the prelim card's opening bout between submission guru Chase Hooper and wrestling talent Alexander Hernandez at lightweight.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
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Hines would have fit the bill–even without elite talent–but this development changes things.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Frank used this strategy at Brentford, particularly with Raya and Toney, allowing a third-man runner to profit from his aerial proficiency.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
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Critics argue that golden visas allow applicants to bypass residency requirements that apply to the rest of the population, such as language proficiency and the need to be in a country for a specific duration before applying.—
Alex Ledsom,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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There is an unmistakable finesse here, a precision that Sullivan, who graduated from Tulane with a degree in finance and management, honed at the Culinary Institute of America.—
Anne Byrn,
Southern Living,
12 Aug. 2025
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Awkward yet graceful, perpetually battle-scarred by his dominant physicality yet possessed by a preference for finesse, Jokic is a revolutionary center.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In PCMark 10 Overall Storage, which measures a drive's aptitude in performing a series of everyday storage tasks, the T710 lags the T705 and most of the other Gen 5 drives.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
6 Aug. 2025
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Bond and bassist Zac Cockrell held down the low end with workmanlike aptitude, leaving plenty of room for bluesy fills, fuzz-distortion accents and pregnant pauses to enter undetected.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
16 July 2025
Noun
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This vision must draw on the moral center that has shaped the city’s social infrastructure and embrace principles of dignity, safety, innovation, and, above all, competence.—
Y. David Scharf,
New York Daily News,
17 Aug. 2025
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This creates a dangerous illusion of talent, where hiring is driven by buzzwords rather than true competence.—
Mike Kiersey,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dexterity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dexterity. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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