ˈdekst(ə)rəs adjective
or dex·trous -trəs
Etymology: Latin dexter skillful, relating to or situated on the right + English -ous
1. : dextral
2.
a. : skillful and active with the hands : deft and skillful in manipulation
a dexterous hand
broadly : adroit and competent in the use of the limbs and body especially in the performance of a task
a dexterous worker
b. of a tool or machine : designed for easy efficient operation ; often : operated with sure expertness
3.
a. : mentally adroit and skillful : quick at inventing expedients : expert , clever
a dexterous manager
b. obsolete : foxy , crafty , unscrupulous
4. : done with dexterity : skillful , artful
dexterous management
dexterous intrigue
a dexterous résumé of the play
Synonyms:
adroit , deft , feat , handy : these adjectives signify in common having or showing readiness or skill in the use of one's hands, limbs, or body. dexterous (or dextrous ) may imply expertness, cunning, and knowledge, with accompanying facility or agility
one of the most dexterous novelists now writing, with an enviable command of styles — Saul Bellow
by force or by dexterous diplomacy — Walter Moberly
seized one corner of the blanket, and with a dexterous twist and throw unrolled it — C.G.D.Roberts
adroit stresses artfulness, often a deceptive artfulness, in one's dexterity, and may indicate ability to cope well with likely situations
an exceptionally adroit pianist — Douglas Watt
a visionary and an idealist, he was at the same time the most thoroughly realistic and adroit political leader since Lincoln — Allan Nevins & H.S.Commager
deft stresses lightness, neatness, and sureness of touch
Angus seemed appallingly at home, and he waltzed off with the prettiest girl, sliding, swinging, deft — Sinclair Lewis
there was a shifting of gears, and with … deft manipulations he reversed the car in the narrow road — W.H.Wright
the lore of all men he knew, and was deft in every cunning, save the dealings of the sword — William Morris
feat , archaic except in dialect, suggests deftness and grace in movement or execution of a task
the featest fellow at the dance
handy suggests a degree of skill, even though a lack of training, in performance of a wide variety of tasks, generally involving such activities as carpentry, plumbing, or general repairing
to be handy around the house when the plumbing goes bad or the roof leaks
as men become more handy at manipulating labels and symbols — Clive Bell
handy at playing bridge, writing a sonnet, or cleaning the cellar