Word of the Day

: October 3, 2021

adroit

adjective uh-DROYT

What It Means

Adroit means "having or showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations."

// The CEO has been praised for his adroit management of the company's financial recovery.

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adroit in Context

"[Dominic Raab] has proved adroit in the past at defusing potentially difficult select committee sessions, notably over overseas aid cuts." — Patrick Wintour, The Guardian (UK), 31 Aug. 2021

Did You Know?

Adroit goes back to an Old French word meaning "handsome or elegant" as well as "skilled in combat." The adjective is still used to imply skillfulness, but usually not of the physical kind. Adroit most often describes cleverness that achieves one's purpose in spite of difficulties.