Synonyms for deft
dɛftdeft

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.3 / 3 votes

1. deft

   Skilful signifies possessing and using readily practical knowledge and ability, having alert and well-trained faculties with reference to a given work. One is adept in that for which he has a natural gift improved by practise; he is expert in that of which training, experience, and study have given him a thorough mastery; he is dexterous in that which he can do effectively, with or without training, especially in work of the hand or bodily activities. In the case of the noun, "an expert" denotes one who is "experienced" in the fullest sense, a master of his branch of knowledge. A skilled workman is one who has thoroughly learned his trade, though he may be naturally quite dull; a skilful workman has some natural brightness, ability, and power of adaptation, in addition to his acquired knowledge and dexterity. Compare CLEVER; DEXTERITY; POWER.

   Synonyms:
   accomplished, adept, adroit, apt, clever, dexterous, expert, handy, happy, ingenious, practised, proficient, skilful, skilled, trained

   Antonyms:
   awkward, bungling, clumsy, helpless, inexpert, maladroit, shiftless, unhandy, unskilled, untaught, untrained

   Preposition:
   Skilful at or in a work, with a pen or tool of any kind.

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. deft, dexterous, dextrousadjective

   skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands

   "a deft waiter"; "deft fingers massaged her face"; "dexterous of hand and inventive of mind"

   Synonyms:
   dextrous, dexterous

   Antonyms:
   maladroit

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. deftadjective

   Synonyms:
   dexterous, skilful, clever, apt, adroit, ready, expert

2. deftadjective

   Synonyms:
   neat, pretty

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. deftadjective

   Synonyms:
   dexterous, adroit, expert, skillful, apt, clever

Suggested Resources

1. DEFT

   What does DEFT stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the DEFT acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

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How to use deft in a sentence?

1. Martin Indyk:

   He's engaging in very deft diplomacy in which first of all he makes clear that he's in Israel's corner, he's got Netanyahu's back, Israel has a right to defend itself, he establishes his credentials as sympathetic to Israel and supportive of Israel and its right to defend itself so that when it comes time to turn to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and say, you know,' It's time to wrap it up,' he has credibility. And when he does that, he'll do it in private.

2. State Department:

   Don't let the' grandmother with the scarves' persona fool Jared Kushner. She is a phenomenal and adept politician, she has lasted this long in no small part due to her bureaucratic maneuvering. This isn't just about what she knows about disease, or her experience. This is a shrewd and deft political veteran.

3. James Nixey:

   This is in my view a rather deft piece of standing one's ground in the wider political situation.

4. Martin Indyk:

   Joe Biden's engaging in very deft diplomacy in which first of all Joe Biden makes clear that Joe Biden's in Israel's corner, Joe Biden's got Netanyahu's back, Israel has a right to defend itself, joe Biden establishes Joe Biden credentials as sympathetic to Israel and supportive of Israel and its right to defend itself so that when it comes time to turn to Netanyahu and say, you know,' It's time to wrap it up,' Joe Biden has credibility. And when Joe Biden does that, Joe Biden'll do it in private.

5. Prince Harry:

   I didn’t see that as being a staged thing. I thought it was entirely spontaneous and clever in making the two brothers talk to each other, it was a deft move that shows the Duchess is not overawed by all that’s going on.