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Glite Dictionary
sure-handed

sure-handed

1 6.2
Skilled, steady, and confident when doing a task, often using the hands
  • adjective
  • /ˈʃʊrˌhændɪd/
translation icon : diestro
  • It contains some of his most sure-handed and well-balanced philosophical writing.

Examples

  • The sure-handed chef prepared the meal with such skill that everyone was impressed.

  • Along with that, he was about as sure-handed as a running back could be.

    Blog text (15)

  • In addition to some great returns, he always seemed to make the right decision, and he was very sure-handed.

    Blog text (11)

  • Sure-handed, he makes great adjustments on passes and runs to every open spot on the field.

    Blog text (6)

  • Nope, give me the sure-handed chain mover who can read zones better than anyone else in his class.

    Blog text (30)

  • Somber, sober, sure-handed

    Blog text (11)

  • Nunez, a backup infielder who hits better than Nix but is not as sure-handed in the field, was added to the A.L.C.S. roster in Jeter's place.

    Blog text (11)

  • As a sure-handed carpenter, she was known for crafting furniture that was both beautiful and sturdy.

  • His sure-handed approach to teaching made complex subjects easy for students to understand.

Synonyms

deft
vssure-handed
15 5.8

Quick and skillful with the hands when working

focuses on steady confident performance rather than rapid movement
dexterous
vssure-handed
3 7.2

Good at using hands to do careful tasks

emphasizes steady confident performance rather than quick manual skill
dextrous
vssure-handed
1 6.8

Good at moving the hands quickly and carefully

focuses on steady confident performance rather than fast physical motion

Antonyms

inept
49 5.0

Not good at something and often clumsy

unskilled
6 2.9

Having no ability or training to do something well

How Skillful

expert
3 3.5
sure-handed
1 6.2
skilled
172 3.5
capable
945 1.4
inexperienced
66 3.4

Surface Forms

sure-handed positive

Morphology

sure-handed = sure + handed (transparent) = sure + handed

The adjective is directly formed from 'sure' + 'handed' meaning 'having sure/steady hands', which a learner can derive from the components.

Etymology

The word sure-handed joins sure ('certain' or 'steady') and hand ('the part of the body that holds and controls things'), which you also see in the word handy. So a sure-handed person has a steady, confident hand and is skilled and reliable.