DEXTEROUS Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

dexterous

adjective

ˈdek-st(ə-)rəs

variants also dextrous

Definition of dexterous

as in skilled

skillful with the hands the dexterous watchmaker was able to repair the antique watch's delicate gears and parts

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in virtuoso

accomplished with trained ability dexterous handling of a potentially embarrassing situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 The bots will also be tested on trickier and more dextrous household and workplace tasks. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Unitree's product lineup spans bipedal humanoid robots that can walk and manipulate objects with dexterous hands, as well as four-legged robots used for tasks such as hazard detection. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026 In unstructured contexts, human dexterity still falls behind dexterous manipulation. — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 But as with the greatest rom-coms, this one belongs to the lovebirds Barbaro and Turner, two of this generation’s finest, most dexterous actors. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dexterous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dexterous

Adjective

Guadagnino has always been skilled in his choice of music (Sufjan Stevens’ alt-pop in Call Me by Your Name, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ pounding EDM in Challengers).

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Oilers general manager Stan Bowman has added Podkolzin and traded for Howard in an effort to bring skilled youth to the roster.

— Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of skilled

Adjective

Every day, the virtuoso violinist plays for an audience of travelers, with his stage in the pedestrian tunnel that links the CTA and parking garages to the terminals.

— Noel Brennan, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Through 107 career games, Minten’s profile has leaned more toward dependable cello player than virtuoso first violinist.

— Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of virtuoso

Adjective

But be that guy that can be skillful, a bruiser, fast and tough.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026
As Musashi scrambles through a school of Samurai, the game seamlessly bounces between skillful swordplay, rowdy improvisation, and Looney Tunes-style levity.

— Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of skillful

Adjective

Try a cider flight to experience several of Seminary Hill’s delicate and impressive ciders which range from semi-dry to dry and from still to sparkling.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
But Democrats don’t have to share the spotlight with the president, so their balancing acts are not as delicate as those confronting their Republican opponents.

— Julio Borquez, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of delicate

Adjective

Magpies are opportunistic scavengers, incredibly cunning and deceitful and capable of calculated deception.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
Last week, Alan Cumming’s cunning competition empire The Traitors unsheathed its most diabolical twist yet.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of cunning

Adjective

Cyrus quickly canes them both—the softer Adam for needing assistance, the defter Charles for providing it.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2026
The tiebreak saw them trade mistakes, punctuated by a jaw-dropping point of lunging, acrobatic improvisation that Shelton won with a deft lob that sent Alcaraz sliding with his back to the net.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of deft

Adjective

The original design, which debuted during artistic director Nicolas Ghesquière’s show, featured some yellow elements throughout, including at the bust layered effect and the minimal seams just beneath the bustline.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
Artist Petersen recalled the artistic freedom that came from living in London squats (empty buildings without the owner’s permission).

— Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of artistic

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dexterous

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“Dexterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dexterous. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of dexterous

adjective

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