variants
also dextrous
1
as in skilled
skillful with the hands
the dexterous watchmaker was able to repair the antique watch's delicate gears and parts
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability
dexterous handling of a potentially embarrassing situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dexterous
But if his gestures were free-floating, his linguistic prowess remained dense and dexterous.
—
Sarah Moroz, Pitchfork, 12 Nov. 2025
There are swift, serpentine vines dexterous enough to snatch Dek’s supplies; combustible little slugs that detonate like grenades when triggered; and exotic flowers that swell up and squirt paralyzing darts when something approaches.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
Its seven-degree-of-freedom robotic arm is paired with dexterous hands that can sense pressure changes and perform delicate movements.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Cleaning looked mundane compared with dexterous manipulation.
—Ashis Ghosh, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dexterous
Sarah Moroz, Pitchfork, 12 Nov. 2025
There are swift, serpentine vines dexterous enough to snatch Dek’s supplies; combustible little slugs that detonate like grenades when triggered; and exotic flowers that swell up and squirt paralyzing darts when something approaches.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
Its seven-degree-of-freedom robotic arm is paired with dexterous hands that can sense pressure changes and perform delicate movements.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Cleaning looked mundane compared with dexterous manipulation.
—Ashis Ghosh, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dexterous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dexterous
Adjective
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Collaborating with industry leaders, academic institutions and others to ensure Iowa develops a skilled workforce for the growing nuclear energy sector.—
Marissa Payne,
Des Moines Register,
6 Jan. 2026
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The only problem is that Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger, Quinshon Judkins and Harold Fannin aren’t skilled at throwing passes or blocking defensive linemen.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Kirk Baxter’s arrhythmic cutting is designed around quicksilver shifts that, along with Barry Ackroyd’s restlessly attentive, mostly handheld camerawork, allow Bigelow to redirect our attention with virtuoso command.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The 5-11, 187-pound receiver is skillful at running routes and can create separation with his quick feet.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
2 Jan. 2026
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Mackey does especially skillful work conveying the legibility of Ella’s personal anxiety and political passion.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Lily Allen strikes a pose in a delicate lace outfit on the carpet at 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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The idea worked on paper, but in practice, the alignment was extremely delicate, and the overall setup became unstable and hard to scale.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Fueled by vengeance and cunning ambition, Ashur rises from betrayal and bloodshed to seize power, gouging out a place for the House of Ashur in a new arena full of violence, desire, and twisted loyalty.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
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The elaborate scheme, masterminded by members of four Mafia families in collusion with celebrity athletes, ensnared unsuspecting victims, bleeding them of over $7 million through cunning deception, prosecutors said in the indictment.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The OptiPlex 7020 is one in its nearly endless line of business towers, and this one has a surprisingly adroit loadout in terms of components.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
11 July 2025
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SpaceX is the implied template: Musk will advocate for privatizing the government, outsourcing the affairs of state to nimble entrepreneurs and adroit technologists.—
Franklin Foer,
The Atlantic,
19 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The Borg represent our fear of erasure, of disappearing into a vast, flat, and uncaring bureaucracy, and are one of modern fiction's most deft updates to the existential horror first popularized in the fiction of Franz Kafka.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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But instead, New York soon scored on yet another counterattack — a problem to defend for CLT FC the entire match — as Fernandez scored his second goal of the game with a deft chip over Kahlina.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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White gave props to some other iconic duos — representing non-musical disciplines — that preceded the White Stripes onto the national artistic stage.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 Nov. 2025
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Beginning in 2004, the zAmya Theater Project connects communities throughout the Twin Cities to theater and artistic expression, centering on social justice, advocacy and collaboration, according to its website.—
Sophia Arndt,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dexterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dexterous. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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