variants also dextrous

Synonym Chooser

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

The words adroit and deft are common synonyms of dexterous. While all three words 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

In what contexts can adroit take the place of dexterous?

The words adroit and dexterous can be used in similar contexts, but 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

Where would deft be a reasonable alternative to dexterous?

While in some cases nearly identical to dexterous, deft emphasizes lightness, neatness, and sureness of touch or handling.

a surgeon's deft manipulation of the scalpel

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 dexterous By creating a fuller picture which centers Medusa in her own story, Hynes creates a more dexterous Medusa, one imbued with more agency and less tragedy. Irenosen Okojie july 11, Literary Hub, 11 July 2025 Making a hand that is as dexterous as a human one is one of the biggest challenges in robotics. Bloomberg, Oc Register, 13 June 2025 The touch screen, microphone, and stylus meant even those not dexterous enough for the typical shooters could find games perfect for them. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2025 Kristin Chenoweth and Aaron Tveit both gave pitch-perfect on-the-spot deliveries as Erivo held out her microphone to them, but the most memorable was definitely Lambert, who blew the crowd away with spontaneous, dexterous riffs. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 9 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for dexterous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dexterous
Adjective
  • Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.
    Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The blazer is also lined, which comes in handy on chilly evenings.
    Izzy Baskette, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Nani was an exciting, skillful winger, and in the early part of his career in England, a one-time housemate of storied compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo.
    Patrick Snell, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The animation is flawless and the voice cast, including Dom DeLuise and Derek Jacobi, is note-perfect, but NIMH is most notable for its skillful blend of adventure yarn and emotional family drama, a combination rendered with expert care.
    Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The Magnificent Seven are also skilled innovators, Cramer continued.
    Julie Coleman, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
  • According to a McKinsey Digital survey, 60% of companies agree that the lack of skilled IT professionals is the primary barrier to deploying complex technologies.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Seville is known for having excellent regular-season races and running masterful rounds in major championships.
    Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Hijabs Off is a masterful special that Johnson’s career has been building toward for years.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Hacking a pre-Internet console Making this amusing amalgam of past and present technology possible required some clever engineering.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
  • If so, its still a quick and clever method for styling a bun in a pinch.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Plus, an expert PEOPLE editor answers the burning question of the week, and one of our favorite stars joins us for a sitdown.
    Staff Author, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
  • For full daily and monthly horoscopes as well as expert readings, see our full Horoscopes experience.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • On this occasion, Fernandez’s cross flies over Cucurella and straight into the thick of the action, where Joao Pedro’s cunning movement creates space to get his header away.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Bening will costar on the series as Beulah Jackson, who's described as the powerful, cunning, and charming head of a major ranch in Texas.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • When human activities like pollution disrupt habitats, these delicate host–parasite relationships can break down.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • This delicate balance is precisely what makes the platform so powerful.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dexterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dexterous. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

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