1
as in virtuoso
accomplished with trained ability
a luthier whose deft craftsmanship is prized by violinists the world over
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in skillful
skillful with the hands
the deft jeweler quickly attached the diamond to its mount on the gold band
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deft
The addition of end-to-end bomber Kiefer Sherwood is likely to create even more space for Misa, allowing the 2025 first-round pick to go from a guy with deft skill to an obvious game-changer.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
Covering the early 20th century through the present, gliding back and forth between eras with the deftest touch, the film views the living as merely the latest iteration of a fragile species that has been constantly struggling against unseen forces that drag it down, generation after generation.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Hanks' big-kid energy performance and Penny Marshall's deft direction make Big worth revisiting again and again.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026
After a vocal break, the jam ends with Bonamassa playing his own lyrical solo, summarizing everything that came before it with deft, dexterous blues playing.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deft
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026
Covering the early 20th century through the present, gliding back and forth between eras with the deftest touch, the film views the living as merely the latest iteration of a fragile species that has been constantly struggling against unseen forces that drag it down, generation after generation.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Hanks' big-kid energy performance and Penny Marshall's deft direction make Big worth revisiting again and again.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026
After a vocal break, the jam ends with Bonamassa playing his own lyrical solo, summarizing everything that came before it with deft, dexterous blues playing.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deft
Adjective
-
McIntosh, a brilliant composer who has a sideline as a virtuoso early-music violinist, revelled in the microtonal shadings that Feldman built into his notation.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Six points clear of Manchester City and Villa, Arsenal can boast form and — for the first time in a while — fitness, with Declan Rice marking his return to the lineup with a virtuoso two-goal display against Bournemouth.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
During her tenure at UTA, her skillful agenting has shaped and built the careers of so many iconic talents.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
5 Feb. 2026
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She is remembered as a gifted painter and skillful in pastels, in addition to being an avid supporter of philanthropic causes and frequent golfer, finding both love and frustration in the sport, her family says.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Once masterful on breakouts and ironclad in individual battles, Doughty has dipped in both areas.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Take last Sunday’s historic Grammy Album of the Year win, which made his masterful LP Debi Tirar Mas Fotos the first all-Spanish-language album to win in the category.—
Vanessa Diaz,
Rolling Stone,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The pyramids, the temples, the stunning gold jewelry found in royal tombs — all of these marvels depended on practical, everyday tools wielded by skilled hands.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
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There’s a shortage of skilled workers who have both the manual skills and the organizational skills needed for the sector, and there’s also competition among companies for warehouse personnel based on pay, benefits, lifestyle and more.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Bring in Other Scents Scent can be introduced in a variety of ways, from candles and diffusers to delicate room sprays.—
Kate Donovan,
Martha Stewart,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Young boys cleaned test tubes, brawny machinists built gauges and mills, and scales delicate enough to weigh an inch of a spider's web.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Goldsworthy has made cunning edits of the landscape throughout Penpont.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
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Perhaps most perceptively captivating is the sweetly cunning way Marczak inserts himself into the film.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Individuals facing removal proceedings, green card delays or asylum applications benefit from expert legal help.—
Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone
February 10,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Feb. 2026
-
For full daily and monthly horoscopes as well as expert readings, see our full Horoscopes experience.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Key components such as reducers, lead screws, and dexterous hand tendons will be thoroughly tested during this process.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
-
After a vocal break, the jam ends with Bonamassa playing his own lyrical solo, summarizing everything that came before it with deft, dexterous blues playing.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deft. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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