Dexterity
n.capable, energeticprofessional
What it means
Controlled skill and ease in using the hands or mind.
Reach for it when praising coordinated handling of fine, quick, or complex work
The puppeteer's dexterity gave each wooden bird a distinct motion.
Choose between these
6- everyday
when learned ability is the broad quality being praised
not when Skill may rely on strength or knowledge rather than agile coordination.
- warm
when light, efficient mastery is visible in one action
not when Deftness is less technical and may not describe sustained coordination.
- professional
when rapid changes of position or thought matter most
not when Agility prizes speed and does not guarantee fine control.
- professional
coordination
when body parts or actions work accurately together
not when Coordination can be adequate without reaching the high skill of dexterity.
- formal
adroitness
when clever, smooth management of difficulty deserves emphasis
not when The uncommon word can obscure a straightforward compliment.
- literary
when subtle control and polish make the result effective
not when Finesse may concern diplomacy or style rather than hand or mental facility.
Said against
3- clumsiness
- awkwardness
- incoordination
It naturally appears in
3- manual dexterity
Repairing the tiny mechanism requires excellent manual dexterity.
- mental dexterity
Her mental dexterity made the rapid strategy game look easy.
- remarkable dexterity
The glassblower shaped the narrow stem with remarkable dexterity.
Where this comes from
- Wiktionary, English noun, sense 1: skill in physical or mental action opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.