Synonyms of dexterous

dexterous

adjective

ˈdek-st(ə-)rəs 

variants also dextrous

1

as in handy

skillful with the hands

the dexterous watchmaker was able to repair the antique watch's delicate gears and parts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• handy
• skilled
• clever
• skillful
• cunning
• deft
• agile
• expert
• graceful
• masterful
• adept
• capable
• nimble
• proficient
• limber
• able
• competent
• flexible
• lissom
• lithe
• spry
• coordinated
• qualified
• masterly
• lissome
• lithesome
• sure-handed
• habile
• loose-jointed
• double-jointed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clumsy
• wooden
• unhandy
• handless
• ungainly
• uncomfortable
• awkward
• stiff
• uneasy
• heavy-handed
• ungraceful
• gawky
• klutzy
• stilted
• gauche
• graceless
• fumbling
• uncoordinated
• rough-hewn
• ham-fisted
• incompetent
• ham-handed
• butterfingered
• incapable
• inept
• inexpert
• bungling
• maladroit

2

as in skillful

accomplished with trained ability

dexterous handling of a potentially embarrassing situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• skillful
• masterful
• expert
• delicate
• adroit
• smooth
• creative
• deft
• virtuoso
• artful
• practiced
• clever
• masterly
• artistic
• workmanlike
• practised
• able
• bravura
• adept
• capable
• ingenious
• adequate
• cunning
• competent
• facile
• neat
• fancy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• amateur
• crude
• artless
• clumsy
• unprofessional
• amateurish
• rude
• awkward
• ineffective
• unskillful
• ineffectual
• incompetent
• klutzy
• inept

Synonym Chooser

How is the word dexterous different from other adjectives like it?

The words adroit and deft are common synonyms of dexterous. While all three words mean "ready and skilled in physical movement," dexterous implies expertness with consequent facility and quickness in manipulation.

unrolled the sleeping bag with a dexterous toss

In what contexts can adroit take the place of dexterous?

The words adroit and dexterous can be used in similar contexts, but adroit implies dexterity but usually also stresses resourcefulness or artfulness or inventiveness.

the magician's adroit response to the failure of her prop won applause

Where would deft be a reasonable alternative to dexterous?

While in some cases nearly identical to dexterous, deft emphasizes lightness, neatness, and sureness of touch or handling.

a surgeon's deft manipulation of the scalpel

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dexterous

By creating a fuller picture which centers Medusa in her own story, Hynes creates a more dexterous Medusa, one imbued with more agency and less tragedy. —Irenosen Okojie july 11, Literary Hub, 11 July 2025

Known for his dexterous falsetto and charisma as a performer, Christie made his name as a teen idol in the age of Frankie Valli, Frankie Avalon and Paul Anka. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 20 June 2025

Making a hand that is as dexterous as a human one is one of the biggest challenges in robotics. —Bloomberg, Oc Register, 13 June 2025

The touch screen, microphone, and stylus meant even those not dexterous enough for the typical shooters could find games perfect for them. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2025

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