deftly
Americanadverb
Etymology
Origin of deftly
Explanation
When something's done deftly, it's accomplished with style and skill. You'd be sure to impress your friends if you grabbed three grapefruits, juggled them deftly, and returned them to their bowl, all while carrying on a conversation. A physical or athletic act can be done deftly, or easily and well, but deftly can also describe something done with cleverness or wit, like a musician writing song lyrics deftly. The Old English word gedæfte, which means "mild" or "gentle," is the root of the word deftly, whose meaning still has that sense of doing something both skillfully and gently, or effortlessly.
Vocabulary lists containing deftly
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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.
Mr. Kolker handles complex neuroscience deftly but also remains attuned to the unique philosophical questions raised by FTD.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
Avoiding the traps of stuffy academic assessment or testimonial-studded tribute, O’Connor goes the immersive route, letting Hammer’s own voice accompany a deftly edited archival journey that moves easily across personal reflection and societal impact.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
The show can only suggest the visual and physical dimensions of the original project, of course, but does so deftly.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
How was this country legend able to walk the line so deftly?
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2026
Though her words were harsh, her stitches were deftly done.
From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
