dexterous

adjective

dex·​ter·​ous ˈdek-st(ə-)rəs 

variants or less commonly dextrous

1

: mentally adroit and skillful : clever

her dexterous handling of the crisis

2

: done with mental or physical skill, quickness, or grace : done with dexterity : artful

a dexterous maneuver

3

: skillful and competent with the hands

a dexterous surgeon

dexterously adverb

dexterousness noun

Did you know?

If you believe dexterous to be on the right side of etymological history, well, right on. Dexterous comes from the Latin word dexter, meaning "on the right side." Since most people are right-handed, and therefore do things more easily with their right hand, dexter developed the additional sense of "skillful." English speakers crafted dexterous from dexter and have been using the resulting adjective for anyone who is skillful—in either a physical or mental capacity—since at least the early 1600s. (The noun dexterity arrived a bit earlier, influenced both by Latin and the Middle French word dexterité). The adjective ambidextrous, which combines dexter with the Latin prefix ambi-, meaning "both," describes one who is able to use both hands in an equally skillful way. With so many handy words at its disposal, the English language itself is pretty dexterous, amirite?

Synonyms

• clever
• cunning
• deft
• handy

Choose the Right Synonym for dexterous

dexterous, adroit, deft mean ready and skilled in physical movement.

dexterous implies expertness with consequent facility and quickness in manipulation.

unrolled the sleeping bag with a dexterous toss

adroit implies dexterity but usually also stresses resourcefulness or artfulness or inventiveness.

the magician's adroit response to the failure of her prop won applause

deft emphasizes lightness, neatness, and sureness of touch or handling.

a surgeon's deft manipulation of the scalpel

Examples of dexterous in a Sentence

They praised her dexterous handling of the crisis.

The movie is a dexterous retelling of a classic love story.

Recent Examples on the Web

Like any dexterous toddler, Lindsay would have moved her hands around while riding her mother’s back — but Beryl is missing an eye. —Brandon Keim, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025

He’s got dexterous tools catching, tipping and redirecting pucks on first touch. —Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025

Conductive palm-side material that enabled dexterous phone use, plus a durable, abrasion-resistant exterior, and bluesign approval added to the glove’s appeal. —Mark Eller, Outside Online, 13 Dec. 2024

By enabling refined dexterous control through enhanced sensory feedback, this research opens new pathways for individuals with upper limb loss to engage in complex tasks traditionally deemed impossible with current prosthetics. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin dextr-, dexter on the right side, skillful

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

dexterous

adjective

dex·​ter·​ous

variants also dextrous

ˈdek-st(ə-)rəs 

1

: mentally skillful and clever : expert

her dexterous handling of the problem

2

: done with skill

a dexterous maneuver

3

: skillful with the hands

dexterously adverb

dexterousness noun

Medical Definition

dexterous

adjective

dex·​ter·​ous

variants also dextrous

ˈdek-st(ə-)rəs 

1

: skillful and competent with the hands

2

: mentally adroit and skillful

dexterously adverb

dexterousness noun