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Showing results for deftness. Search instead for daftnesses.
Synonyms

deftness

American  
[deft-nis] / ˈdɛft nɪs /

noun

  1. cleverness or skill in using either the body or mind; dexterity or nimbleness.

    He was a highly skilled artisan who used his tools with the deftness and certainty of genius.

Etymology

Origin of deftness

deft ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Working on the variety of her game - coming forward to the net and showing more deftness - has been a key focus for Sabalenka.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

The author has a gift for describing pristine lowland forests and the majesty of trees more than 1,000 years old, and equal deftness in showing the horror of their devastation by logging and fire.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

“My Everyday Lagos: Nigerian Cooking at Home and in the Diaspora” is the first cookbook from New York Times columnist Yewande Komolafe, written with the deftness of a seasoned pro.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2023

It’s “what’s he like, how do you negotiate with him?” said Mr. Traupe, who praised Mr. Burns’s deftness so far in “not being the center of attention.”

From New York Times • May 9, 2023

I was with her and marveled at my sister's deftness and complete lack of fear.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.