adjective
deft
DEFT/deft/
Skillful, quick, and graceful in doing or expressing something.
She threads the fine needle with a deft movement.
Etymology
Old English gedæfte meant “gentle” or “becoming.” Its later senses diverged: deft came to describe skillful action, while the same ancestor also produced daft, with its unfavorable sense of foolishness.
In context
They drew him off, and a few deft blows struck off the helmet of his enemy.
More examples
- His deft reply eases the tension in the room.
- The chef makes a few deft cuts through the vegetables.
- A deft adjustment brings the machine back into alignment.
Forms
deft · defter · deftest
Similar words
- adroit
- Suggests skillful handling, often of a difficult situation.
- dexterous
- Dexterous stresses skillful control, especially of hands; deft can also describe concise verbal or intellectual handling.