deft
15
5.8
- adjective
- /dɛft/
:
hábil
- And he's so deft, switching between comedy and tragedy.
- deft handling
- deft hands
But they're also just extremely deft on on social media and that's cool.
- But they're also just extremely deft on on social media and that's cool.
- So Putin was a much more deft politician, much more amenable to the West.
- Just never forget to be dexterous and deft, and never mix up your right foot with your left.
- Siri, give me some synonyms for clumsy for deft.
Examples
-
A very deft way of cutting cards.
-
Then, in one quick but deft motion, he puts the bridle on him.
Fiction book (1998) -
His hands were smaller than my own, and deft, but he did not hurry.
Fiction book (1999) -
Her movements are fast and deft, and we have to look closely to see all the details.
Academic text (1995) -
The Mistress gave me a cold smile and used the knife with the deft grace of long practice.
Fiction book (2000) -
The hold entry would not respond to any of Ray's deft computer work at the control panel.
Fiction book (1999) -
His fingers, thick as bananas, are deft when they work his rig.
Fiction book (1993) -
Ailsa Wilton, your brilliance in the game of billiards is matched only by your deft touch with a car engine.
-
He did a very deft and tidy job of diminishing the distractions caused by the damages, and he didn't need to do very much more than that.
-
The chef's deft hands sliced through the vegetables with ease.
Synonyms
4
7.5
Good at handling difficult situations and doing things with your hands
3
7.2
Good at using hands to do careful tasks
1
6.2
Skilled, steady, and confident when doing a task, often using the hands
1
6.8
Good at moving the hands quickly and carefully
Antonyms
How Skillful
Surface Forms
Etymology
Deft comes from an old English word gedæfte that meant 'mild' or 'gentle'. Over time a 'gentle' or careful touch became linked with skill and quick control, so deft now means very skillful and quick, especially with the hands.