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 Robots even participated in six events challenging hand dexterity, including picking up beans and driving screws. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026 In addition to more familiar events drawn from human ​sports, robots will ⁠compete in EV charging, restaurant work, emergency incident handling and hand-dexterity contests. — Reuters, NBC news, 23 Aug. 2026 Augmental says MouthPad is best suited for people over 18 who have enough tongue dexterity to operate it. — Jesse Watson , Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026 And yet, another sport may also explain Lombard’s defensive dexterity. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 14 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
  • Before Atlanta, the girls weren’t judged as heavily based on their reads or confessional assassin abilities.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Josh Jacobs’ future with the team is murky, and his ability to break tackles has been integral to the running game.
    — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of ability
Noun
  • The 74-year-old singer-songwriter is in visibly great shape, keeping up with the agility of his dancer-musician companions at every step, every sway and every sudden crouch.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
  • True agility is the ability to adapt while maintaining coherence.
    — Kumar Rupesh, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of agility
Noun
  • The Bears defeated Saginaw 49-20, flashing their offensive prowess.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026
  • But Friday’s report also showed their hiring prowess in sectors like manufacturing that are considered male-dominated, Ullrich said.
    — Alex Harring,Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of prowess
Noun
  • The development is being supported through public-private partnerships focused on longer-term priorities including talent development, housing and equal opportunity in the Brainport region.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Everything gets harder from here, even next week against Old Dominion, but the Hokies sent a pretty clear message that the talent has been substantially upgraded and this won’t be a bottom-of-the-standings ACC team again.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of talent
Noun
  • But Wake County posted one of the highest proficiency rates in the state among all students.
    — Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Maye has already showcased proficiency under center and through his use of play action, as his ability to operate with his back to the line of scrimmage has accelerated his progression.
    — Jeff Howe, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of proficiency
Noun
  • These reproductions are surprisingly effective, partly because the tapestry was made by many hands to begin with, and free embroidery is not an art of finesse.
    — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Oppenheim manages the actors with finesse, getting strong work especially from Pattinson, Gisondo, New York stage regular Maher and the always brilliant Wever.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of finesse
Noun
  • Lewis-Skelly has shown an aptitude for more 360-degree defending and dropping to protect his centre-backs and goalkeeper.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • How could King draw with such aptitude and still struggle to talk?
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of aptitude
Noun
  • In football, a bit of effort and a broad display of competence is generally accepted as a pretty decent return.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Achievement provides relief but no lasting evidence of competence.
    — Sandro da Silva, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 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 14 Sep. 2026.

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