dextrously
7.2
To do something with skill and quick, careful hand movements
- adverb
- /ˈdɛkstrəsli/
:
diestro
- She dextrously navigated through the crowded streets without bumping into anyone.
Examples
-
As he drew near, the man stood and dextrously flicked his noose up the bird's neck and over its head.
Fiction book (1990) -
The magician dextrously performed his tricks, leaving the audience in awe.
-
He can dextrously solve complex puzzles in just a few minutes.
Synonyms
skillfully
vsdextrously
22
3.2
To do something very well because you have practice and control
focuses on manual skill and precise movement rather than broad expertise
deftly
vsdextrously
19
4.8
In a skillful, quick, and exact way
does not stress speed focusing on general skill rather than quickness
adroitly
vsdextrously
3
7.5
In a skillful and clever way
focuses on physical skill and neat movement rather than clever resourcefulness
dexterously
vsdextrously
1
6.7
To do something with the hands in a skilled way
is more general skill rather than focused on hand or body use
How Skillful
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word dextrously comes from the Latin root dexter, which means 'right', as in the 'right hand', and people often used the right hand for careful, skilled work. So, dextrously means 'in a skillful way' and the same root appears in dexterity and ambidextrous.