ambidextrous

[am-bi-dek-struhs]

adjective

1. able to use both hands equally well.

   an ambidextrous surgeon.

2. unusually skillful; facile.

   an ambidextrous painter, familiar with all media.

3. double-dealing; deceitful.

4. Slang.,  bisexual.

ambidextrous

/ ˌæmbɪˈdɛkstrəs, ˌæmbɪdɛkˈstɛrɪtɪ /

adjective

1. equally expert with each hand

2. informal,  highly skilled or adept

3. underhanded; deceitful

Other Word Forms

• ambidextrously adverb
• ambidextrousness noun
• pseudoambidextrous adjective
• pseudoambidextrously adverb
• ambidexterity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambidextrous¹

First recorded in 1640–50; ambidext(e)r + -ous

Example Sentences

These days it’s hard to tell the left from the right in hostility to American business, and no one is more politically ambidextrous than Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

What the ambidextrous Mara showed Friday was his ability to impact the game in a variety of ways, with one exception.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But we’re also making sure there’s a place that they will live also on streaming, so we’re doing ambidextrous programming and selling.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Mississippi State freshman is a rare ambidextrous pitcher, the most notable since Pat Venditte appeared in 61 major league games from 2015-20.

Read more on Seattle Times

Among them will be John Catsimatidis, a grocery store magnate who has historically been a politically ambidextrous donor, but who had a long history with Mr. Trump.

Read more on New York Times