dexterous

adjective

dex·ter·ous ˈdek-st(ə-)rəs How to pronounce dexterous (audio)

variants or less commonly dextrous

: mentally adroit and skillful : clever

her dexterous handling of the crisis

: done with mental or physical skill, quickness, or grace : done with dexterity : artful

a dexterous maneuver

: skillful and competent with the hands

a dexterous surgeon

dexterously adverb

dexterousness noun

Did you know?

Dexterous comes from the Latin word dexter, meaning "on the right side." Since most people are right-handed, and therefore do things more easily with their right hand, dexter developed the sense of "skillful." English speakers crafted dexterous from dexter and have been using the resulting adjective for anyone who is skillful—in either a physical or mental capacity—since at least the early 1600s. The adjective ambidextrous, which combines dexter with the Latin prefix ambi-, meaning "both," describes one who is able to use both hands in an equally skillful way.

Example Sentences

They praised her dexterous handling of the crisis. The movie is a dexterous retelling of a classic love story.

Recent Examples on the Web The most intoxicating of them is the festive award reception, at which old friends, family and professional colleagues gather for mescal and dancing as Khondji’s camera snakes its dexterous way through the crowd.

David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2022 Creed video game, a bottle that gamers should have no problem opening given their dexterous fingers.

Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2022 Actors have to go well beyond shouting in pain in the voice booth by using dexterous physicality as their face is planted in front of a microphone, and all the while try to avoid short-term or long-term damage by shredding their vocal cords.

Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Aug. 2022 LaVoy, who directs the production with outgoing Theater J artistic director Adam Immerwahr, inhabits an array of shifting personas through some dexterous dialect work and Pamela Rodríguez-Montero’s savvy costume tweaks.

Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 21 June 2022 To this dexterous weaving of catastrophes, don't forget that the towering firm of Hamlin Hamlin & McGill is pretty well liquidated now, with both remaining name partners dead partially because of Jimmy's actions.

Darren Franich, EW.com, 12 July 2022 Includes dexterous and inviting acidity, suave tannins and a midpalate of juicy red and black fruit.

Tom Mullen, Forbes, 22 May 2022 Hall’s characters always have things to say and these episodes find the writer with lots to say and lots to address — the series continues to say those things with a dexterous, stinging, thickly accented voice all its own.

Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 June 2022 Bates could not have chosen a better partner for this SF Symphony Co-Commission and West Coast Premiere than the astoundingly dexterous pianist Daniil Trifonov.

San Francisco Chronicle, 11 May 2022 See More

单词	dexterously
释义	dexterous adjective dex·ter·ous ˈdek-st(ə-)rəs variants or less commonly dextrous 1 : mentally adroit and skillful : clever her dexterous handling of the crisis 2 : done with mental or physical skill, quickness, or grace : done with dexterity : artful a dexterous maneuver 3 : skillful and competent with the hands a dexterous surgeon dexterously adverb dexterousness noun Did you know? Dexterous comes from the Latin word dexter, meaning "on the right side." Since most people are right-handed, and therefore do things more easily with their right hand, dexter developed the sense of "skillful." English speakers crafted dexterous from dexter and have been using the resulting adjective for anyone who is skillful—in either a physical or mental capacity—since at least the early 1600s. The adjective ambidextrous, which combines dexter with the Latin prefix ambi-, meaning "both," describes one who is able to use both hands in an equally skillful way. Synonyms clever cunning deft handy See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences They praised her dexterous handling of the crisis. The movie is a dexterous retelling of a classic love story. Recent Examples on the Web The most intoxicating of them is the festive award reception, at which old friends, family and professional colleagues gather for mescal and dancing as Khondji’s camera snakes its dexterous way through the crowd. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2022 Creed video game, a bottle that gamers should have no problem opening given their dexterous fingers. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2022 Actors have to go well beyond shouting in pain in the voice booth by using dexterous physicality as their face is planted in front of a microphone, and all the while try to avoid short-term or long-term damage by shredding their vocal cords. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Aug. 2022 LaVoy, who directs the production with outgoing Theater J artistic director Adam Immerwahr, inhabits an array of shifting personas through some dexterous dialect work and Pamela Rodríguez-Montero’s savvy costume tweaks. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 21 June 2022 To this dexterous weaving of catastrophes, don't forget that the towering firm of Hamlin Hamlin & McGill is pretty well liquidated now, with both remaining name partners dead partially because of Jimmy's actions. Darren Franich, EW.com, 12 July 2022 Includes dexterous and inviting acidity, suave tannins and a midpalate of juicy red and black fruit. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 22 May 2022 Hall’s characters always have things to say and these episodes find the writer with lots to say and lots to address — the series continues to say those things with a dexterous, stinging, thickly accented voice all its own. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 June 2022 Bates could not have chosen a better partner for this SF Symphony Co-Commission and West Coast Premiere than the astoundingly dexterous pianist Daniil Trifonov. San Francisco Chronicle, 11 May 2022 See More Word History Etymology Latin dextr-, dexter on the right side, skillful First Known Use 1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition dexterous adjective dex·ter·ous ˈdek-stə-rəs -strəs 1 : skillful with the hands a dexterous potter 2 : clever sense 2 a dexterous chess player 3 : done with skill The skier made a dexterous jump. Medical Definition dexterous adjective dex·ter·ous variants also dextrous ˈdek-st(ə-)rəs 1 : skillful and competent with the hands 2 : mentally adroit and skillful dexterously adverb as in adroitly Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance adroitly skillfully deftly expertly masterfully ably efficiently competently adeptly effortlessly proficiently easily lightly smoothly readily handily fluently easy painlessly freely facilely intuitively instinctively spontaneously naturally hands down well Antonyms & Near Antonyms laboriously arduously clumsily strenuously hardly unskillfully ineptly awkwardly thoroughly gracelessly meticulously painstakingly painfully industriously assiduously diligently sedulously intensely ham-handedly indefatigably intently tirelessly mightily maladroitly See More
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dexterous

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

Medical Definition

adjective

adverb