dexterous

American  

[dek-struhs, -ster-uhs] / ˈdɛk strəs, -stər əs /

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.

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dexterous British  

/ ˈdɛkstrəs /

adjective

1. possessing or done with dexterity

2. a rare word for right-handed

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Related Words

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.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of dexterous

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

Explanation

If you're dexterous, you're good with your hands. To be dexterous is an essential trait for knitters and sleight-of-hand magicians. The adjective dexterous often refers to skill and agility with the hands, but it can mean any skillful or clever physical movement. A kid's dexterous ball handling and footwork can aid him on the soccer field. Dexterous can also be used to describe mental skill and agility — like the dexterous handling of an uncomfortable situation at work.

Example Sentences

The challenge of developing a robust, dexterous and affordable hand was underlined by Tesla-boss Elon Musk, when he spoke at the All-In Summit in Los Angeles in September of last year.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

But dexterous paws are only half the story.

From Slate • Jan. 25, 2026

“It’s an incredibly difficult thing, especially to create a hand that is as dexterous and capable as the human hand,” said Tesla CEO Elon Musk during an October earnings call.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 27, 2025

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

Albert Einstein was far less dexterous with his hands than was an ancient hunter-gatherer.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari