dexterous

[dek-struhs, -ster-uhs]

adjective

1. skillful or adroit in the use of the hands or body.

   Synonyms: quick, able, apt, expert, handy, nimble, deft
   Antonyms: clumsy

2. having mental adroitness or skill; clever.

   Synonyms: quick, able, apt, expert
   Antonyms: inept

3. done with skill or adroitness.

   Antonyms: awkward

4. right-handed.

dexterous

/ ˈdɛkstrəs /

adjective

1. possessing or done with dexterity

2. a rare word for right-handed

Other Word Forms

• dexterously adverb
• dexterousness noun
• nondexterous adjective
• nondexterously adverb
• nondexterousness noun
• undexterous adjective
• undexterously adverb
• undexterousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dexterous¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin dexter “right-hand,” also “favorable, right, skillful” + -ous

Synonym Study

Dexterous, adroit, deft, skillful, handy all imply facility and ease in performance. Dexterous and adroit both referred originally to right-handedness. Dexterous is still most often used to refer to manual or physical ability but can also refer to mental or social agility: a dexterous wood carver; dexterous management of a potentially embarrassing situation. Adroit implies cleverness or mental acuity, occasionally complex physical skill: an adroit politician; an adroit juggler. Deft suggests a light and assured touch, either physical or mental: deft manipulation of the sensitive controls, of public opinion. Skillful is the most general of these synonyms and can be substituted in most contexts for any of the foregoing, sacrificing only the overtones or connotations of each: a skillful performer. Handy applies mainly to physical skill, often achieved without formal training: handy with tools.

Example Sentences

Someday they could, in theory, pick up a welder or a grinding tool, but making them dexterous enough is a huge challenge.

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His instrumental single “Lover” became the first commercial pop record to incorporate multiple layers of music, all of which were performed by Paul’s dexterous fingers.

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“I could never have expected that 20 years later I would be here playing the most fleshed out, dexterous, rich, enriched version of this woman,” says O’Reilly.

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For example, the dexterous hands of the Baby Ochi proved difficult to get to Saxon’s satisfaction given the scale and the film’s budget.

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It’s just to reassure your guy, or your person, that they’ve done all the work, they have the skills, they’re being presented with someone who’s as fast as them or as dexterous as them.

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