adroit

adjective

ə-ˈdrȯit How to pronounce adroit (audio)
Definition of adroitnext
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability with an adroit flick of the wrist, flipped the omelet into the air and landed it squarely back in the pan

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word adroit different from other adjectives like it?

The words deft and dexterous are common synonyms of adroit. While all three words mean "ready and skilled in physical movement," 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

When might deft be a better fit than adroit?

Although the words deft and adroit have much in common, deft emphasizes lightness, neatness, and sureness of touch or handling.

a surgeon's deft manipulation of the scalpel

In what contexts can dexterous take the place of adroit?

The words dexterous and adroit can be used in similar contexts, but dexterous implies expertness with consequent facility and quickness in manipulation.

unrolled the sleeping bag with a dexterous toss

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 adroit 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 The OptiPlex 7020 is one in its nearly endless line of business towers, and this one has a surprisingly adroit loadout in terms of components. — PC Magazine, 11 July 2025 Naturally, Moore is formidable, acing an English accent and exhibiting an adroit sense of comic timing. — Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024 The adroit reshufflings of narrative and perspective in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ and ‘Poor Things’? — Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2023 See All Example Sentences for adroit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adroit
  1. virtuoso
  2. skillful
  3. masterful
  4. expert
  5. delicate
  6. dexterous
  7. artistic
  8. deft
Adjective
  • The visual essay below features virtuoso examples of the techniques that designers have used to replicate the ideals of classical dress over the years, including draping, pleating, twisting, and wrapping.
    — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 16 July 2026
  • Thanks to more than 200 years of intense and virtuoso scientific work, what were once valid or at least plausible concerns and objections to vaccines have been overcome.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Definition of virtuoso
Adjective
  • The Norwegian soccer superstar, 26, took social media by storm throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, between his skillful talent on the pitch and his team’s celebratory Viking row.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
  • Jordan's first try from a chip kick by Jordie Barrett and a skillful recovery by Leroy Carter gave New Zealand the lead for the first time and against the run of play in the 30th minute.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
Definition of skillful
Adjective
  • The sophisticated updo Kate is well-known for her hairstyles, which are nothing short of masterful.
    — Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 31 July 2026
  • An entrepreneur is like a chef, and AI provides the ingredients needed to create a masterful meal, a thriving enterprise.
    — Sid Mohasseb, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of masterful
Adjective
  • The documentary will feature diverse expert opinions and a family exploring holistic alternatives to medication, aiming to provide crucial context for parents and professionals and prompt deeper questions about contemporary life's effects.
    — Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • The trial will be held in federal court in Oakland, and will depend heavily on expert testimony from economists.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 31 July 2026
Definition of expert
Adjective
  • Just three days earlier, Gerber had approached sheer dressing through a semi-sheer Valentino number patterned with delicate diamond beading.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 30 July 2026
  • The Wizard of Oz was a fairly complicated undertaking, beyond the delicate task of reconceiving an 87-year-old classic shot in a nearly square aspect ratio for a spherical space wrapped by the world’s highest-resolution screen.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 30 July 2026
Definition of delicate
Adjective
  • The reparations movement has been dexterous and incisive, and transnationalism has been key in the reparations movement.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
  • Optimus stands 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) tall, weighs about 160 pounds (73 kg), features more than 40 degrees of freedom, and uses highly dexterous 11-degree-of-freedom hands designed to perform human-like tasks.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 23 July 2026
Definition of dexterous
Adjective
  • In a recent cover story for Elle, detailed her personal and artistic evolution.
    — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2026
  • Courtney and McCullough's were dissatisfied because of the Argenta Contemporary Theatre's decision to hire a new artistic director, the complaint said.
    — Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 30 July 2026
Definition of artistic
Adjective
  • Building cars is one thing, but building that kind of instantaneously recognizable brand requires a deft hand.
    — Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The ball landed in the middle of the six-yard box, on the head of fellow young defender Ian Togo, but the American’s deft header went wide.
    — George Edwards, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of deft

Browse Nearby Words

adrift
adroit
adroitly
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Cite this Entry

“Adroit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adroit. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on adroit

Nglish: Translation of adroit for Spanish Speakers

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