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Synonyms

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.

Etymology

Origin of deftly

deft ( def. ) + -ly

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.

But they were not as naïve now, more deftly dodging her swinging stick.

From Literature

They keep a disciplined, grueling schedule, turning out polished, deftly produced episodes 52 weeks a year.

From Los Angeles Times

Nguyen deftly crafts a poignant and contemplative snapshot of these seven bonded men who are caught between several masters in the creation of “Arirang.”

From Salon

Scene by scene, Ms. Alexander deftly conveys the mounting burden of Carol’s exhaustion and fathomless sadness in the face of this.

From The Wall Street Journal

Father, his jeweler’s glass in his eye, was bent over the shoulder of the newest apprentice, deftly selecting an infinitesimal part from the array before them on the workbench.

From Literature

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.