Deftness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈdeft/

Meaning & Definition of Deftness

Deftness (adjective)

  1. characterized by facility and skill

Deftness (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. ease and grace in physical activity

    "the effortless deftness with which he plays the piano"

    similar: agility, dexterity, nimbleness, sleight, spryness
    related: coordination, flexibility, gracefulness, limberness, litheness, loose-jointedness, suppleness, handiness, sure-handedness, sure-footedness, adeptness, adroitness, finesse, prowess
    opposite: awkwardness, clumsiness, gaucheness, gawkiness, gawkishness, gracelessness, ham-handedness, heavy-handedness, klutziness, ungainliness
    near: disability, inability, incapability, incapacity, debilitation, disablement, impairment, incapacitation, unhandiness

  2. subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something

    "with deftness and aplomb she managed to keep the bickering relatives apart for the duration of the reception"

    similar: adeptness, adroitness, art, artfulness, artifice, artistry, cleverness, craft, cunning, masterfulness, skill, skillfulness
    related: dexterity, ease, finesse, handiness, experience, expertise, expertness, know-how, proficiency, creativity, ingenuity, inventiveness, knowledge, learning, aptitude, bent, flair, gift, knack, talent
    opposite: artlessness, ineptitude, ineptness, maladroitness
    near: amateurishness, awkwardness, clumsiness, crudeness, klutziness, rudeness, inability, inadequacy, inadequateness, incapability, incapacity, incompetence, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficacy, inefficiency

Related Entry: Deft (adjective)

Deft is a different word from Deftness. The synonyms below are for deft, not for deftness.

  1. accomplished with trained ability

    "a luthier whose deft craftsmanship is prized by violinists the world over"

    similar: adroit, artful, bravura, delicate, dexterous, expert, masterful, masterly, practiced, skillful, virtuoso, workmanlike
    related: facile, smooth, artistic, creative, fancy, ingenious, neat, adept, clever, cunning, able, adequate, capable, competent
    opposite: amateur, amateurish, artless, rude, unprofessional, unskillful
    near: awkward, clumsy, crude, klutzy, ineffective, ineffectual, incompetent, inept

  2. skillful with the hands

    "the deft jeweler quickly attached the diamond to its mount on the gold band"

    similar: clever, cunning, dexterous, handy
    related: agile, flexible, graceful, limber, lissome, lithe, lithesome, nimble, spry, coordinated, able, adept, capable, competent, expert, habile, masterful, masterly, proficient, qualified, skilled, skillful, sure-handed, double-jointed, loose-jointed
    opposite: butterfingered, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, unhandy
    near: awkward, bungling, clumsy, fumbling, gauche, gawky, graceless, klutzy, rough-hewn, stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungainly, ungraceful, wooden, uncoordinated, incapable, incompetent, inept, inexpert, maladroit

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Deftness

The most common words with a similar meaning to Deftness:

agility, dexterity, nimbleness, sleight, spryness, adeptness, adroitness, art, artfulness, artifice, artistry, cleverness, craft, cunning, masterfulness, skill, skillfulness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Deftness

Words with the opposite meaning of Deftness:

awkwardness, clumsiness, gaucheness, gawkiness, gawkishness, gracelessness, ham-handedness, heavy-handedness, klutziness, ungainliness, artlessness, ineptitude, ineptness, maladroitness

Related Words for Deftness

coordination, flexibility, gracefulness, limberness, litheness, loose-jointedness, suppleness, handiness, sure-handedness, sure-footedness, finesse, prowess, ease, experience, expertise, expertness, know-how, proficiency, creativity, ingenuity, inventiveness, knowledge, learning, aptitude, bent, flair, gift, knack, talent

Near Antonyms of Deftness

disability, inability, incapability, incapacity, debilitation, disablement, impairment, incapacitation, unhandiness, amateurishness, crudeness, rudeness, inadequacy, inadequateness, incompetence, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficacy, inefficiency

Word Forms of Deftness

Derived words: deftly (adverb), deftness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Deftness

perhaps continuing Middle English daffte, daft, defte "well-mannered, gentle, dull, foolish" daft

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Deftness

What does "Deftness" mean?

"Deftness" means characterized by facility and skill. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: characterized by facility and skill. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Deftness"?

Other words for "Deftness" include agility, dexterity, nimbleness, sleight, spryness, adeptness, adroitness and art. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Deftness" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Deftness"?

There are 46 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Deftness". Common alternatives include agility, dexterity, nimbleness, sleight, spryness, adeptness, adroitness, art, artfulness and artifice.

What is the opposite of "Deftness"?

Antonyms of "Deftness" include awkwardness, clumsiness, gaucheness, gawkiness, gawkishness, gracelessness, ham-handedness and heavy-handedness. Near antonyms include disability, inability, incapability and incapacity.

How do you use "Deftness" in a sentence?

Examples of "Deftness" in a sentence: "the effortless deftness with which he plays the piano"; "with deftness and aplomb she managed to keep the bickering relatives apart for the duration of the reception".

Is "Deftness" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Deftness" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Deftness"?

"Deftness" is pronounced /ˈdeft/.

What is the origin of the word "Deftness"?

"Deftness" comes from perhaps continuing Middle English daffte, daft, defte "well-mannered, gentle, dull, foolish" daft. First known use: 15th century.