adroit

[uh-droit]

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adjective

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

cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious: an adroit debater.

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Nearby words

Origin of adroit

1645–55; < French, Old French: elegant, skillful, equivalent to a- a-⁵ + droit, dreit straight, just, correct < Latin dīrēctus; see direct

SYNONYMS FOR adroit

1. skillful, clever; deft, apt, adept.

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ANTONYMS FOR adroit

1. clumsy.

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Related forms

a·droit·ly, adverba·droit·ness, nounun·a·droit, adjectiveun·a·droit·ly, adverb

un·a·droit·ness, noun

Can be confusedadroit à droite

Synonym study

1, 2. See dexterous.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for adroitly

Simon Elegant, in Time, writes on how Mo adroitly negotiates the edges of censorship.
60 Second Guide to Mo Yan: 2012 Winner of Nobel Prize for Literature|The Daily Beast|October 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The result enabled others in the administration, like Geithner, to play Emanuel adroitly.
‘The Escape Artists’ Speed Read: Best Bits on How Obama Bungled Financial Reform|Ben Jacobs|February 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And then to use so adroitly his accommodating temporary female friend in decoying his lawful love into the trap.
The Actress in High Life|Sue Petigru Bowen
When it reached this point, she adroitly changed the current of her thoughts.
Sally Bishop|E. Temple Thurston

"Only twelve allowed to go," said the sergeant; "and I am one," added he, adroitly inserting himself.
White Lies|Charles Reade
She divined his trouble, and in the deep shadow she adroitly did it herself.
The Wrong Twin|Harry Leon Wilson
Hartwell, rushing for the door, was adroitly tripped up and fell heavily.
Jacob's Ladder|E. Phillips Oppenheim

British Dictionary definitions for adroitly

adroit

adjective

skilful or dexterous

quick in thought or reaction

Derived Formsadroitly, adverbadroitness, noun

Word Origin for adroit

C17: from French à droit according to right, rightly

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for adroitly

adroit

adj.

1650s, "dexterous," originally "rightly," from French adroit, from phrase à droit "according to right," from Old French à "to" (see ad-) + droit "right," from Late Latin directum "right, justice," accusative of Latin directus "straight" (see direct (v.)). Related: Adroitly; adroitness.