1
as in agility
ease and grace in physical activity
the effortless deftness with which he plays the piano
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in skill
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something
with deftness and aplomb she managed to keep the bickering relatives apart for the duration of the reception
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 deftness
Learner Tien, with guidance from 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang, has the kind of game — sweeping, angled groundstrokes and deftness of touch — that should suit clay, but he is still getting used to its secret codes.
—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
The term implies godlike deftness and speed but also a certain impersonal coldness — skill at the expense of passion.
—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
This sky-high figure indicates the display's deftness at producing deep blacks alongside bright whites, resulting in improved image quality in both light and dark scenes.
—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
7 Mar. 2026
Ridge’s equal deftness at the high end and the low is one of many apparent incongruities that the winery has managed to balance comfortably.
—
Senior Wine Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
24 Feb. 2026
The deftness required to nail the relentless 16th-note melodies grows more transparent when unadorned.
—
Aly Eleanor,
Pitchfork,
19 Feb. 2026
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
The term implies godlike deftness and speed but also a certain impersonal coldness — skill at the expense of passion.
—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
This sky-high figure indicates the display's deftness at producing deep blacks alongside bright whites, resulting in improved image quality in both light and dark scenes.
—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
7 Mar. 2026
Ridge’s equal deftness at the high end and the low is one of many apparent incongruities that the winery has managed to balance comfortably.
—
Senior Wine Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
24 Feb. 2026
The deftness required to nail the relentless 16th-note melodies grows more transparent when unadorned.
—
Aly Eleanor,
Pitchfork,
19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deftness
Noun
-
Junior bull riders generally graduate from riding horses, learning balance and agility, before testing their mettle on miniature bulls.
-
But there is a difference between identifying agility as important and possessing it.
Noun
-
While students honed their skills at the Santa Monica studio for the last year and four months, Blanck found an old pilates studio in Pacific Highlands for rent, but the numbers just didn't add up.
-
Those types of players are still enormously valuable because many of their skills are always valuable.
Noun
-
After taking over hosting duties from Padma Lakshmi in season 21, Kish is now the undeniable face of the series, one that represents the continuously evolving future of its programming, which prioritizes culinary skillfulness.
Cite this Entry
“Deftness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deftness. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
