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
Evolution is part of the answer to why chimpanzees have such dexterous toes while ours seem much more clumsy.
—
Steven Lautzenheiser, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2025
There’s no real way to prevent the attacks, since the animals have dexterous hands and can remove most protective measures like nets or small fences.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 2 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for dexterous
Steven Lautzenheiser, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2025
There’s no real way to prevent the attacks, since the animals have dexterous hands and can remove most protective measures like nets or small fences.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 2 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for dexterous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dexterous
Adjective
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The pyramids, the temples, the stunning gold jewelry found in royal tombs — all of these marvels depended on practical, everyday tools wielded by skilled hands.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
-
There’s a shortage of skilled workers who have both the manual skills and the organizational skills needed for the sector, and there’s also competition among companies for warehouse personnel based on pay, benefits, lifestyle and more.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Slafkovský had two goals and an assist in a virtuoso performance, and Iowa Wild goaltender Samuel Hlavaj was sensational, stopping 39 of 40 shots, including an 18-save first period that gave his team belief that the improbable was possible.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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McIntosh, a brilliant composer who has a sideline as a virtuoso early-music violinist, revelled in the microtonal shadings that Feldman built into his notation.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Elegant materials, bespoke furnishings, skillful layering of textures, and eye-catching lighting are all hallmarks of Hogarty’s soulful spaces, and the firm seeks to create an emotional response with its polished yet comfortable aesthetic.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
10 Feb. 2026
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During her tenure at UTA, her skillful agenting has shaped and built the careers of so many iconic talents.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Bring in Other Scents Scent can be introduced in a variety of ways, from candles and diffusers to delicate room sprays.—
Kate Donovan,
Martha Stewart,
5 Feb. 2026
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Young boys cleaned test tubes, brawny machinists built gauges and mills, and scales delicate enough to weigh an inch of a spider's web.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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While people born in the year of the snake are seen as charismatic, intelligent, and artistic, they are also often considered cunning and mysterious.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
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And Halston has a cunning plan.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Girolmo knows exactly what the show needs, and there is a musically adroit and highly personable cast in the not-entirely-Irish persons of Emily Goldberg, the singer-musician Michael Mahler, the fine tenor Luke Nowakowski and Leah Morrow.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
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As Powell — one of Capitol Hill’s most adroit navigators — made his rounds, Republicans on both sides of the Capitol panned the investigation.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Using a combination of staged footage and archival tape, Mihai conjures the era with deft aesthetic control, all while creating a work of commentary that feels distinctly of the now.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
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In The Unknown, Cale has arranged a series of deft, destabilizing plot turns about the stalker who Elliott imagines is tracking him.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The lively City Hall gala was Boston’s third official celebration since the city formally recognized the day as a holiday in 2023, and attendees marked the occasion with a range of artistic showcases and performances.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
16 Feb. 2026
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Many artistic enterprises, including theatre, opera, and the circus were promoted by their imaginings, but, for sheer nerve, cinema took the crown.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dexterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dexterous. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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