variants also dextrous

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

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 dexterous Equipped with dexterous whiskers, these pinnipeds use a suite of senses to navigate their surroundings with ease. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 May 2025 Williams playing somewhere around his All-Star level would certainly help, but fates should largely fall into the dexterous hands of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 18 May 2025 Macklem speaks perhaps 80 percent of the words in the play, spinning long, disarming, verbally dexterous monologues. Jesse Green, New York Times, 9 May 2025 This new generation of Atlas is stronger and more dexterous than its predecessors, with a broader range of motion that sometimes exceeds human capabilities. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dexterous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dexterous
Adjective
  • An auto shut-off is a handy feature that keeps the fan running to clear the air after cooking then turns it off to save electricity.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
  • This handy calculator can give you a better idea of a protein target that will meet your individual needs.
    Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Finnegans Wake, in his skillful hands, is a tapestry of all the works Joyce ever wrote, the final and protracted project of a writer who could never stop thinking about Ireland.
    Eric Bulson, The Atlantic, 16 June 2025
  • Their smart, aggressive defense disorients even the smoothest spacing and the most skillful shooters.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • Sallis enters the professional ranks as a skilled guard with a smooth mid-range game, defensive versatility, room to grow as a shooter and playmaker and potential to develop in an NBA organization.
    Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 27 June 2025
  • Medicaid also funds the majority of long-term care for seniors in skilled nursing facilities.
    Pia Valvassori, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • The Belgian master of minimalism and wabi-sabi forever changed the design of sofas, and his way with rough-hewn wood furniture and beams, pale linen, an earthy palette, and a masterful blending of East and West and antique and contemporary are now canonized among professionals.
    Amy Astley, Architectural Digest, 25 June 2025
  • Gill goes on to justify this support with a masterful century in front of a sell-out crowd on day one.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 22 June 2025
Adjective
  • Even the cleverest plans leave room for a little improvisation.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 22 June 2025
  • Part of the demand is perhaps driven by a clever sales tactic.
    Annette Choi, CNN Money, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • Wing will share practical tools and give expert insight on keeping families safe from online predators, cyber-bullying, digital threats and more.
    Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2025
  • Do the expert speakers have seats and water at their disposal? Are the speaking notes or teleprompters in place?
    Adrian Dearnell, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • With wit and cunning, the protagonists navigate the ever-present systems of oppression that encircle them and their relationships.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 June 2025
  • President Trump does not exhibit Bismarck’s cunning, inscrutability, or proclivity for complicated diplomacy.
    Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • If regular Jenga is like performing delicate surgery, this extra large version from a different company is like performing a dangerous game of minesweeper.
    Parker Hall, Wired News, 21 June 2025
  • Birthday party etiquette can be a delicate balance.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 21 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dexterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dexterous. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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