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deftness

American  
[deft-nis] / ˈdɛft nɪs /

noun

  1. cleverness or skill in using either the body or mind; dexterity or nimbleness.

    He was a highly skilled artisan who used his tools with the deftness and certainty of genius.

Etymology

Origin of deftness

deft ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Samson's deftness to use the crease to arrow square drives through backward point were particularly eye-catching.

From BBC

Working on the variety of her game - coming forward to the net and showing more deftness - has been a key focus for Sabalenka.

From BBC

The author has a gift for describing pristine lowland forests and the majesty of trees more than 1,000 years old, and equal deftness in showing the horror of their devastation by logging and fire.

From The Wall Street Journal

Men who don’t understand Los Angeles will never understand me, and for that, they’re unworthy of my deftness at loving.

From Los Angeles Times

With an offhand deftness, Ceylan lays bare the sort of master operator who hides in plain sight, skilled at ensnaring unwitting victims.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.