1
as in agility
ease and grace in physical activity
the effortless deftness with which he plays the piano
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in skill
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something
with deftness and aplomb she managed to keep the bickering relatives apart for the duration of the reception
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Recent Examples of deftness
Her willingness to handle tough conversations coupled with the deftness to maneuver through them productively.
—
Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2026
This sky-high figure indicates the display's deftness at producing deep blacks alongside bright whites, resulting in improved image quality in both light and dark scenes.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 7 Mar. 2026
Ridge’s equal deftness at the high end and the low is one of many apparent incongruities that the winery has managed to balance comfortably.
—Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Feb. 2026
The deftness required to nail the relentless 16th-note melodies grows more transparent when unadorned.
—Aly Eleanor, Pitchfork, 19 Feb. 2026
Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2026
This sky-high figure indicates the display's deftness at producing deep blacks alongside bright whites, resulting in improved image quality in both light and dark scenes.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 7 Mar. 2026
Ridge’s equal deftness at the high end and the low is one of many apparent incongruities that the winery has managed to balance comfortably.
—Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Feb. 2026
The deftness required to nail the relentless 16th-note melodies grows more transparent when unadorned.
—Aly Eleanor, Pitchfork, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deftness
Noun
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If so, speed is of the essence in reallocating resources and in adapting governance to move with agility.—
Kevin Russell,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
-
Leon also has a special talent on set pieces for the Saints, using her agility and explosiveness to perform flip throws.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Noun
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The two-time Mirrorball winner was seen leaping high into the air and showed off her skills by performing a series of tricks including frontflips and backflips.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
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This will be followed by a final period in Florence to learn the technique and historical evolution of egg tempera, to acquire ancient handweaving skills and expand her knowledge of its applications in the ecclesiastic context.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deftness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deftness. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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