DEFTLY Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

deftly

adverb

Definition of deftly

as in masterfully

in a skillful or expert manner the company spokesperson deftly sidestepped the investigative reporter's questions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of deftly Throughout her career, Simon has deftly taken on fraught historical or political baggage but always in a way that prioritizes the emotional core of the material. — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026 Yet Seghers deftly exposes the insecurity, loneliness, and longing that hide behind masculinist poses. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 The first half focuses on the early entrepreneurial years, deftly incorporating archival footage with the usual talking heads. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 Oct. 2026 Matching my best safari sightings over the years, the sight of a mother helping her calf deftly navigate the mighty Zambezi and clamber up the muddy banks moves me to tears. — Charukesi Ramadurai, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026 The British Film Institute chair has continued to deftly straddle two enormous jobs in European film and TV. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026 A couple of those are easily forecast, but the crucial one is fiendishly spring-loaded, deftly shifting the stakes of the whole enterprise, and testing Mark’s integrity both as a man and as a politician. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 The blind man nudged the ferrule of his cane into the bulk of the sleeping figure, sidestepped him deftly, and moved on to the end of the block, a stoplight, heavy traffic, cyclists, big scary trucks. — Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026 Even the way his fingers operate, which now pick so deftly at the guitar, could be impacted. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deftly

Adverb

Ahluwalia x Puma Blending the designer’s Indian-Nigerian culture with Puma’s legendary sportswear designs, this partnership masterfully resulted in a colorful, chic athleisure capsule.

— Virginia Corneli, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
The Soundcore Select 4 Go pairs an adventure-proof IP67 design with exceptional 20-hour battery life masterfully.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of masterfully

Adverb

Jay has always skillfully folded each turn into his larger mythology, going from drug dealer to rapper to label boss to executive with an air of inevitability, every choice subsumed into the glory of the hustle.

— Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
These nine classics skillfully keep audiences guessing while depicting different kinds of waking nightmares, making the protagonists’ traumas our own for a few entertaining hours.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of skillfully

Adverb

Though Simone Rocha’s pink fluff of formal attire from her spring 2027 collection was full of playful romance, Edgar-Jones’s structured Chloé design artfully contrasted with a past era’s traditional adoption of romantic verve.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
Clearing the air, artfully, is an opportunity to draw a group closer together.

— Margaret Wappler, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of artfully

Adverb

Her beauty look, with gleaming skin and braids pulled back neatly, was similarly unfussy.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
Green fragrances are gaining ground as shoppers move away from sweet gourmands and heavy vanilla scents, and tomato leaf fits neatly into that shift toward fresher, more botanical profiles.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of neatly

Adverb

The overtones of social significance are adroitly handled and make real sense in an era of tragic international quarrels.

— THR Staff, HollywoodReporter, 28 Sep. 2026
Rams architects Les Snead and Sean McVay can still adroitly motivate a player without pressing too hard.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026

Definition of adroitly

Adverb

This year, there have been a lot of films that are expertly navigating this.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Sybil appeared to be in charge of making the batter, expertly cracking eggs into the yellow mixer as Craig was on oven duty, putting the cookies in before carefully watching his daughter for permission to take the treats out.

— Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of expertly

Adverb

And there was also a favorable response on Saturday to Amazon/MGM’s Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, an action-thriller led capably by Mahershala Ali.

— Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 20 Sep. 2026
This is a budget loadout, but the Intel Core i3 processor is a solid little performer that capably manages Web browsing, spreadsheets, document creation and more without breaking a sweat.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of capably

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deft

deftly

deftness

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“Deftly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deftly. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of deftly

adverb

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