dexterity

noun

dek-ˈster-ə-tē How to pronounce dexterity (audio)
Definition of dexteritynext
1
as in ability
mental skill or quickness the ambassador showed great dexterity in his handling of the touchy situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in agility
ease and grace in physical activity the juggler needed lots of dexterity in order to keep all five balls in the air at the same time

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 dexterity The author of the series bears the same curiosity, quick wit, and linguistic dexterity as the younger man who wrote Zone One and 2006’s messy farce, Apex Hides the Hurt. — Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026 This can improve your dexterity and coordination, as well as the strength and flexibility in your toes and feet. — Jennifer Klump, Verywell Health, 17 July 2026 In his prime, his shows were unforgettable displays of verbal dexterity and abundant charm. — Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2026 Sea Rangers offer a Swiss Army knife’s dexterity, pursuing government contracts across the European Union and United Kingdom to tackle the tedium of climate compliance and the drudgery of clearing those backlogs. — Richard Morgan, Time, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dexterity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dexterity
  1. ability
  2. agility
  3. prowess
  4. talent
  5. proficiency
  6. finesse
  7. aptitude
  8. competence
Noun
  • But their ability to deliver useful results depends on the quality, accessibility and governance of the data behind them.
    — Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • For now, though, the team’s missing payments at the Coliseum could jeopardize their ability to finish out the 2026 regular season.
    — Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 26 July 2026
Definition of ability
Noun
  • Yes, he was outplayed by veteran defensive tackle Zach Sieler on the final play of Friday’s practice but overall Proctor showed good feet, good agility and was solid in pass protection.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Despite its size and power, the Q9 is intended to offer the agility of a much smaller sedan or wagon due to its adaptive air suspension, which comes standard.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 July 2026
Definition of agility
Noun
  • Goldman Sachs ' dealmaking prowess may grab all the glory, but the biggest driver of growth last quarter came from the daily-grind of equities trading.
    — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Taiwan's manufacturing prowess is critical, as all major platform developers rely on its expertise for producing AI components and systems.
    — Russell Flannery, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of prowess
Noun
  • Avoiding represented talent or hindering communication only exacerbates the issue.
    — Chris Ryan, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • That would allow the Cowboys to go out and sign free agents in a pool of available talent that does still have solid players.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026
Definition of talent
Noun
  • In his interview with the board, Villalobos addressed issues like enrollment decline, reading proficiency, school safety, curriculum, achievement gaps and more.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026
  • Equal tool access doesn’t mean equal proficiency—deliberately spreading high-leverage skills raises everyone’s output, reduces knowledge silos and helps new or quieter voices contribute faster, building a genuinely stronger and more cohesive team.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of proficiency
Noun
  • Guler has always been singled out by the club as one of the cornerstones of their project, for bringing technical finesse to a team full of physicality and for his special understanding with Kylian Mbappe.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • All politicians pander, but the best of them do it with some finesse.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
Definition of finesse
Noun
  • Mox shoved Rick Knox, who still didn’t have the guts or aptitude to call for a disqualification.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • Valeri, who began playing at age 4 in his Buenos Aires suburb, said the futbol passion and aptitude run deep in a country where community pride infuses youth-club rivalries and street soccer prevails in many neighborhoods.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026
Definition of aptitude
Noun
  • Close Confidence And Skill Gaps Technical skills are important, but competence alone doesn't always lead to career advancement.
    — Kathy George, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Alongside the flattering coverage, Fauci recorded deep concern about the federal government’s competence.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 27 July 2026
Definition of competence

Browse Nearby Words

dewy-eyed
dexterity
dexterous
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dexterity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dexterity. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on dexterity

Nglish: Translation of dexterity for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of mitigate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All