deftly

American  

[deft-lee] / ˈdɛft li /

adverb

1. in a dexterous or nimble manner; skillfully.

   The nightjar, a nocturnal bird, is an aerial hunter capable of deftly snatching moths from the air in mid flight.

   With clear, concise prose, the author navigates deftly through a complex narrative of diplomacy, war, and politics.

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Etymology

Origin of deftly

deft ( def. ) + -ly

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.

Example Sentences

Deftly paced, “I Am Not a Designer” echoes Noguchi’s balance of mystery, theatricality, playfulness and restraint.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

Deftly walking the line between exploitation and control in “Honey Dont!,”

From Salon • Aug. 23, 2025

Deftly pulling her helmet onto her head, she describes the day's work.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2022

Deftly avoiding the pitfalls of traditional ethnographic films, “The Last Forest” tells the story of South America’s Yanomami people — in their own voice and their own words.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2021

Deftly he tied it around the base of Kira’s walking stick.

From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry

Related Words

• ably
• adroitly
• artfully
• carefully
• cleverly
• coolly
• deliberately
• intelligently
• judiciously
• keenly
• knowingly
• skillfully
• slyly
• smartly