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 skillful
skillful with the hands
the deft jeweler quickly attached the diamond to its mount on the gold band
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deft
Denver comedy fans are well served this weekend with headlining sets from hometown hero Josh Blue, a stand-up crusher who’s been showing comics how it’s done since grabbing national attention in 2006 with his hilariously deft, self-effacing routines.
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John Wenzel, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
In a cultural environment that can often seem overwhelming, Morris is a deft, open-minded guide through the noise.
—Benjamin Cannon, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Still, Jackson showed a remarkably deft touch in navigating public opinion in Karen Read's case.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
Recorded during her Orquídeas era, this unexpected drop further cements Uchis as a deft purveyor of bops that exist purely to elevate your mood.
—Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deft
Adjective
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Six points clear of Manchester City and Villa, Arsenal can boast form and — for the first time in a while — fitness, with Declan Rice marking his return to the lineup with a virtuoso two-goal display against Bournemouth.—
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That was a virtuoso performance.—
Adjective
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The 5-11, 187-pound receiver is skillful at running routes and can create separation with his quick feet.—
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Mackey does especially skillful work conveying the legibility of Ella’s personal anxiety and political passion.—
Adjective
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Keilty, who has been preaching defense since the moment he was hired over the offseason, orchestrated a masterful plan to prevent Masco from getting second-chance scoring opportunities, or, for that matter, open looks.—
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White had a masterful game in his first game as a full-time starter since earlier in the year.—
Adjective
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The shift toward high-skilled gig work is a response to a volatile labor market where even professional skills aren’t enough to ensure a worker’s job security.—
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Ensure a steady pipeline of skilled workers who are capable of navigating challenges and changing market conditions — driving innovation and maintaining organizational stability.—
Adjective
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After her husband took her pets out of the room, Bloor then faced the even more delicate task of safely removing herself from the bed without alarming the snake.—
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That said, many have a vested interest in inflating their compensation, which makes for a delicate reporting exercise.—
Adjective
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Varner described the creatures as diabolically cunning, destructive, and nocturnal.—
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The show followed Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston), a former British military officer who goes undercover to help take down Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie), a cunning, amoral arms dealer helping to destabilize the Middle East.—
Adjective
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Ahead, discover the best beanies for women, chosen as a fashion writer of over 10 years, along with expert advice on caring for and styling your new topper.—
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De Laurentiis took all the chaos in stride and was the expert judge for the cooking portion of the outrageous lineup of competitions.—
Adjective
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Designed as a safe, autonomous, and highly generalizable system, MATRIX-3 combines biomimetic sensing, dexterous manipulation, natural human-like movement, and a new cognitive core capable of zero-shot learning.—
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Evolution is part of the answer to why chimpanzees have such dexterous toes while ours seem much more clumsy.—
Cite this Entry
“Deft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deft. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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