Synonyms of dexterous

dexterous

adjective

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

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• 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

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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

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

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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