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 dextrous
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
Add the deft hands of Francona’s pair of bench coaches — Brad Mills and Freddie Benavides — and there was a calm, consistent workday throughout camp.
—
C. Trent Rosecrans, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
Aduba holds everything together with a deft turn, refusing to let Cordelia Cupp’s on-paper oddities ever become a caricature.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2025
On the next shift, a Zac Jones high stick caught Johansson in the face, drawing a double minor penalty, and Gaudreau made a deft move at the top of the crease for a power play goal to pull the Wild even again.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2025
But more careful scrutiny reveals that Rubens made deft alterations to Titian’s composition.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deft
C. Trent Rosecrans, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
Aduba holds everything together with a deft turn, refusing to let Cordelia Cupp’s on-paper oddities ever become a caricature.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2025
On the next shift, a Zac Jones high stick caught Johansson in the face, drawing a double minor penalty, and Gaudreau made a deft move at the top of the crease for a power play goal to pull the Wild even again.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2025
But more careful scrutiny reveals that Rubens made deft alterations to Titian’s composition.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deft
Adjective
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Elegant materials, bespoke furnishings, skillful layering of textures, and eye-catching lighting are all hallmarks of Hogarty’s soulful spaces, and the firm seeks to create an emotional response with its polished yet comfortable aesthetic.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
15 Apr. 2025
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Hiring managers must learn to distinguish between misuse and skillful application to capture a candidate’s ability to tackle real-world challenges.—
Bing Yu Yap,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This three-hour experience is led by a skilled guide who will keep you safe, take photographs, and give you detailed information about the bridge and surrounding areas along the way.—
Wendy Altschuler,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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On Via Montenapoleone, the store’s façade features arched windows crafted by skilled Murano glassmaker Venini.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Following a masterful opening round at Augusta National, round one leader Justin Rose came back to earth on Friday, allowing much of the field to move within striking distance heading to the weekend.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2025
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Though White occasionally fell short tying together all the threads — a few songs ambled deep into the weeds and nearly suffocated from their complexity — his masterful guitar techniques and kinetic vocals made the detours worthwhile.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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With time, cunning, and no irony, the Shuberts slew the Syndicate Goliath and built a monopolistic empire of their own that Justice Department lawyers would decades later force into an antitrust settlement.—
Frank Rich,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2025
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The mean girl, as we’ve been taught to recognize her, is cunning and charismatic.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The graceful curvature of the leather seatbacks and straps encasing the sofas were a marvel, somehow both sturdy and delicate.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
10 Apr. 2025
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Loose clusters of delicate, sweetly-scented flowers appear in April and May.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The integration came as the company recently unveiled Sanctuary AI’s cutting-edge tactile sensors and demonstrated progress in creating dexterous intelligence for autonomous labor.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Feb. 2025
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Then there was her dexterous ability at playing two pianos at once.—
Gail Mitchell,
Billboard,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Art Weston, a Kentucky resident, went to Lake Livingston, Texas, to catch an alligator gar with the help of an expert guide and fisherman, Captain Kirk Kirkland.—
Ashley J. DiMella Fox News,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The lingo, the faces, the concerns – all seemed, if not entirely authentic, then at least clever enough to create some backstage buzz.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
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Just make sure your clever solution doesn’t create additional fire hazards i.e. don’t hide cords under a rug.—
Maddie Topliff,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deft. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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