adroit

[ uh-droit ]

adjective

1. expert or nimble in the use of the hands or body.

   Synonyms: adept, apt, deft, clever, skillful

   Antonyms: clumsy

2. cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious:

   an adroit debater.

adroit

/ əˈdrɔɪt /

adjective

1. skilful or dexterous
2. quick in thought or reaction

Derived Forms

• aˈdroitness, noun
• aˈdroitly, adverb

Other Words From

• a·droit·ly adverb
• a·droit·ness noun
• un·a·droit adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of adroit¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from French, Old French: “elegant, skillful,” equivalent to a- a- ⁵ + droit, dreit “straight, just, correct,” from Latin dīrēctus; direct

Word History and Origins

Origin of adroit¹

C17: from French à droit according to right, rightly

Synonym Study

See dexterous.

Example Sentences

He is adroit and dry, and balances humor with the humanity of life.

From The Daily Beast

There are many circles of influence and many adroit, if at times feuding, practitioners.

From The Daily Beast

Modern circumstances require an adroit approach to the manner in which our foreign policy is being implemented.

From The Daily Beast

Sometimes, to be unmemorable is to be adroit; and tonight, Obama was deeply unmemorable—and very adroit.

From The Daily Beast

In Petraeus, Obama also gets an Afghan commander as adroit at handling the press as McChrystal was suicidal.

From The Daily Beast

The countess-dowager was not very adroit at spelling and composition, whether French or English, as you observe.

From Project Gutenberg

The adroit Mohammedan knew better than to trust his sahib and himself too long on the highway.

From Project Gutenberg

One or the other was always ready with an adroit question which brought out the whole story.

From Project Gutenberg

There was no applause as the little man outwitted his follower by an adroit dodge under the ticket wagon.

From Project Gutenberg

Priests the most adroit have overcharged religion with ceremonies, and practices, and mysteries.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adept
• artful
• deft
• masterful
• nimble
• proficient
• skillful