Dexterous
adj.capableprofessional
What it means
Showing precise, easy skill with the hands or mind.
Reach for it when describing a person or action that handles complexity with fine control
The dexterous technician joined the hair-thin wires without a visible seam.
Choose between these
6- playful
when practical ability with tools suits an informal voice
not when Handy is modest and can mean merely useful or conveniently placed.
- everyday
when speed and easy adjustment are most visible
not when Nimbleness can lack the accuracy required for dexterous work.
- everyday
when broad competence is clearer and more natural
not when Skillful does not identify the fine coordination highlighted by dexterous.
- warm
when quick, economical handling deserves a light compliment
not when Deft often describes a single move and may be too narrow for an enduring ability.
- professional
when exactness is the quality that can be verified
not when Precise work may be slow and mechanical rather than dexterous.
- formal
when clever handling of a social or intellectual challenge is central
not when Adroit sounds elevated and is less specifically manual.
Said against
3- clumsy
- inept
- awkward
It naturally appears in
3- dexterous hands
Her dexterous hands repaired the lace without replacing a thread.
- dexterous movement
One dexterous movement folded the paper into a clean spiral.
- dexterous use
The essay shows dexterous use of humor in a serious argument.
The word family
1Where this comes from
- Wiktionary, English adjective, sense 1: skillful with hands or mind 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.