deft

1 of 2

adjective

ˈdeft How to pronounce deft (audio)
Synonyms of deft
: characterized by facility and skill
the photographer's deft use of lighting
the deft fingers of the trumpeter
deftly adverb
deftness
ˈdef(t)-nəs How to pronounce deft (audio)
noun

deftness

2 of 2

noun

deft·​ness -f(t)nə̇s How to pronounce deftness (audio)
plural -es
: the quality of being deft : dexterity, neatness, quickness

Synonyms of deft

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Adjective

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dexterous, adroit, deft 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

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

deft emphasizes lightness, neatness, and sureness of touch or handling.

a surgeon's deft manipulation of the scalpel

Examples of deft in a Sentence

Adjective The photographer is known for her deft use of lighting. a luthier whose deft craftsmanship is prized by violinists the world over
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Adjective
Our hearts are left warmed by its deft exploration of humanity, patriarchy and the meaning of life. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2026 De Minaur is springy and quick; Mannarino is languid and deft, with his incredibly low string tension trampolining the ball through the court with deceptive power. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 1 July 2026 Kelly Mason commands Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with a deft hand, both at her namesake Mason Vineyards and Domaine Queylus. — Kate Dingwall, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 And its deft balance between free-wheeling improvisations and stop-on-a-dime dynamic precision, fire and finesse, never fails to impress. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for deft

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

perhaps continuing Middle English daffte, daft, defte "well-mannered, gentle, dull, foolish" — more at daft

Note: Rather than being derived directly from Middle English, Modern English deft may go back to an unattested Old English *gedefte (with umlaut), with a meaning "fit, ready" developing to "apt, skilfull"; the sense shift is otherwise difficult to account for, though the lack of any certain attestation of deft in the sense "skillful" before the later 16th century makes this scenario hypothetical.

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deft was in the 15th century

Rhymes for deft

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Browse Nearby Words

defroster
deft
defterdar
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Cite this Entry

“Deft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deft. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

deft

adjective
ˈdeft How to pronounce deft (audio)
: quick and skillful in action
knitting with deft fingers
deftly adverb
deftness
ˈdef(t)-nəs How to pronounce deft (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on deft

Nglish: Translation of deft for Spanish Speakers

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