Deft
adjective
Skilled and quick in one's movements.
He was deft at handling the tricky situation.
Often appears as...
- deft touch
- deft handling
Usage tips
Approving
adjective
Demonstrating skill or cleverness.
Her deft strokes on the canvas brought the painting to life.
Often appears as...
- deft strokes
- deft workmanship
Usage tips
Approving
Literary
adjective
Skilled and quick in one's movements.
He was deft at handling the tricky situation.
Often appears as...
- deft touch
- deft handling
Usage tips
Approving
adjective
Demonstrating skill or cleverness.
Her deft strokes on the canvas brought the painting to life.
Often appears as...
- deft strokes
- deft workmanship
Usage tips
Approving
Literary
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Skill
Use 'deft' to describe physical skills that require finesse and precision.
With a deft flick, he secured the knot.
Pro Tip 2/3Mental Nimbleness
'Deft' also applies to sharp mental skills, suggesting quick, effective thinking.
She's deft at solving complex puzzles.
Pro Tip 3/3Handling Situations
Use 'deft' for someone who manages situations in a skillful and often subtle way.
He showed deft diplomacy in the negotiations.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Skill
Use 'deft' to describe physical skills that require finesse and precision.
With a deft flick, he secured the knot.
Pro Tip 2/3Mental Nimbleness
'Deft' also applies to sharp mental skills, suggesting quick, effective thinking.
She's deft at solving complex puzzles.
Pro Tip 3/3Handling Situations
Use 'deft' for someone who manages situations in a skillful and often subtle way.
He showed deft diplomacy in the negotiations.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Skill
Use 'deft' to describe physical skills that require finesse and precision.
With a deft flick, he secured the knot.
Pro Tip 2/3Mental Nimbleness
'Deft' also applies to sharp mental skills, suggesting quick, effective thinking.
She's deft at solving complex puzzles.
Pro Tip 3/3Handling Situations
Use 'deft' for someone who manages situations in a skillful and often subtle way.
He showed deft diplomacy in the negotiations.
Never forget "Deft"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
An unsung hero of the...
In spite of his deft management, some of the other organizers did not want Rustin to march in front with other leaders from the south, because of his homosexuality. Despite these slights, Rustin maintained his focus, and on the day of the march he delivered the marchers' demands
Video examples
The tale of the boy who...
and welcomed her grandson. The old woman set to work, lavishing the devil with food and drink. When he fell asleep, she deftly plucked three gleaming hairs from his head. With each plucked hair, the Devil briefly awoke and complained about his dreams,
Video examples
Your brain on video...
to understand what are the good ingredients in games to promote positive effects, and that's what I'm going to call the broccoli side of the equation. There is an entertainment software industry which is extremely deft at coming up with
Video examples
Catching Giant Tuna PIPE...
easily travel across the Atlantic Ocean in weeks huge and shimmering bluefin tuna fend off predators by schooling underwater deftly corralling and killing prey tuna have a limitless capacity to grow larger and larger record tuna have
Video examples
An old friend who never...
demon that deftly turn sand into crystal what roars and then whistles flows through the heart of every woman and man I from the far reaches of space to the palm of your hand from the center of heavens own system to the place where
Video examples
Your brain on video...
that's what I'm going to call the broccoli side of the equation there is an entertainment software industry which is extremely deft at coming up with appealing products that you can't resist that's a chocolate side of the equation
Video examples
Blood Squirting Lizard PIPE...
diet just as the answers stalked by the lizard the lizard is stalked by a coyote the next link on the food chain the coyote is fast deft and determined the lizard finally has a reason to deploy its doomsday weather
Video examples
How the Monkey King...
Liberated from the bonds of death, Sun Wukong began to battle his way out of the underworld. He deftly defeated endless swarms of angry spirits— before tripping on his way out of the kingdom.
Video examples
Blood Squirting Lizard PIPE...
the next link on the food chain the coyote is fast deft and determined the lizard finally has a reason to deploy its doomsday weapon that's swelling below the lizard's eye isn't a tear duct
Video examples
Chip Kidd: The art of...
we now have seven deft strokes that in and of themselves create an entire emotional life, one that has enthralled hundreds of millions of fans for over 50 years.
Video examples
An unsung hero of the...
In spite of his deft management, some of the other organizers did not want Rustin to march in front with other leaders from the south, because of his homosexuality. Despite these slights, Rustin maintained his focus, and on the day of the march he delivered the marchers' demands
Video examples
The tale of the boy who...
and welcomed her grandson. The old woman set to work, lavishing the devil with food and drink. When he fell asleep, she deftly plucked three gleaming hairs from his head. With each plucked hair, the Devil briefly awoke and complained about his dreams,
Video examples
Your brain on video...
to understand what are the good ingredients in games to promote positive effects, and that's what I'm going to call the broccoli side of the equation. There is an entertainment software industry which is extremely deft at coming up with
Video examples
Catching Giant Tuna PIPE...
easily travel across the Atlantic Ocean in weeks huge and shimmering bluefin tuna fend off predators by schooling underwater deftly corralling and killing prey tuna have a limitless capacity to grow larger and larger record tuna have
Video examples
An old friend who never...
demon that deftly turn sand into crystal what roars and then whistles flows through the heart of every woman and man I from the far reaches of space to the palm of your hand from the center of heavens own system to the place where
Video examples
Your brain on video...
that's what I'm going to call the broccoli side of the equation there is an entertainment software industry which is extremely deft at coming up with appealing products that you can't resist that's a chocolate side of the equation
Video examples
Blood Squirting Lizard PIPE...
diet just as the answers stalked by the lizard the lizard is stalked by a coyote the next link on the food chain the coyote is fast deft and determined the lizard finally has a reason to deploy its doomsday weather
Video examples
How the Monkey King...
Liberated from the bonds of death, Sun Wukong began to battle his way out of the underworld. He deftly defeated endless swarms of angry spirits— before tripping on his way out of the kingdom.
Video examples
Blood Squirting Lizard PIPE...
the next link on the food chain the coyote is fast deft and determined the lizard finally has a reason to deploy its doomsday weapon that's swelling below the lizard's eye isn't a tear duct
Video examples
Chip Kidd: The art of...
we now have seven deft strokes that in and of themselves create an entire emotional life, one that has enthralled hundreds of millions of fans for over 50 years.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
J. Kenji Lopez-Alt
American Chef
Tempura chefs are sort of like the Jedi of the cooking world: They must deftly perform with the utmost skill and precision, using extremely dangerous tools, all while maintaining a calm, serene demeanor. It is an elegant technique, from a more civilized time.
Quote examples
John Hodgman
American Comedian
People forget how outcast 'They Might Be Giants' can be. They have a reputation for writing really deft, funny, clever melodies, and they also make a lot of music for kids, which is terrific, but when you see them in concert, they can rock the house.
Quote examples
Emma Stone
American Actress
I've read a lot of different versions of myself - and all of them are true because it's all opinion, and they're as accurate as it can ever be. But I don't think that I've been deft at hiding parts of my personality.
Quote examples
Rich Lowry
American Editor
Clinton's fakery was so deft and deeply ingrained that it was impossible to tell where it ended and the real Bill Clinton began. This constituted a kind of political genius.
Quote examples
Debbie Millman
American Writer
LaCroix is deftly devoted to its zealots, and this is a classic case study of how lavishly loving your constituents is the best way to get them to buy more.
Quote examples
Andrew Ross Sorkin
American Journalist
Tiptoeing on a tightrope past insider trading laws may be deft and clever, but it doesn't make it right.
Quote examples
Ron Fournier
American Journalist
It's a deft trick to turn American exceptionalism into an exceptional political tactic.
Quote examples
Mona Eltahawy
Egyptian Journalist
The Right is incredibly deft at getting earnest about all the wrong things.
Quote examples
Andrew Cohen
American Writer
The executive branch maneuvered this result deftly.
Quote examples
Yvonne Orji
Nigerian Actress
For me, comedy was deftly terrifying.
Quote examples
J. Kenji Lopez-Alt
American Chef
Tempura chefs are sort of like the Jedi of the cooking world: They must deftly perform with the utmost skill and precision, using extremely dangerous tools, all while maintaining a calm, serene demeanor. It is an elegant technique, from a more civilized time.
Quote examples
John Hodgman
American Comedian
People forget how outcast 'They Might Be Giants' can be. They have a reputation for writing really deft, funny, clever melodies, and they also make a lot of music for kids, which is terrific, but when you see them in concert, they can rock the house.
Quote examples
Emma Stone
American Actress
I've read a lot of different versions of myself - and all of them are true because it's all opinion, and they're as accurate as it can ever be. But I don't think that I've been deft at hiding parts of my personality.
Quote examples
Rich Lowry
American Editor
Clinton's fakery was so deft and deeply ingrained that it was impossible to tell where it ended and the real Bill Clinton began. This constituted a kind of political genius.
Quote examples
Debbie Millman
American Writer
LaCroix is deftly devoted to its zealots, and this is a classic case study of how lavishly loving your constituents is the best way to get them to buy more.
Quote examples
Andrew Ross Sorkin
American Journalist
Tiptoeing on a tightrope past insider trading laws may be deft and clever, but it doesn't make it right.
Quote examples
Ron Fournier
American Journalist
It's a deft trick to turn American exceptionalism into an exceptional political tactic.
Quote examples
Mona Eltahawy
Egyptian Journalist
The Right is incredibly deft at getting earnest about all the wrong things.
Quote examples
Andrew Cohen
American Writer
The executive branch maneuvered this result deftly.
Quote examples
Yvonne Orji
Nigerian Actress
For me, comedy was deftly terrifying.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension