deftly

adverb

Definition of deftlynext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 the first season of Furious, creator Elizabeth Meriwether and company deftly explored the idea of female vengeance, all while making Catherine into a kind of antihero for the ages. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026 Not to mention, Cook was a supply-chain master with an ability to deftly navigate the often choppy political waters. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026 Steeped in classic 1960s soul, the sisters deftly trade off on lead and harmony vocals. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026 That concision is evident in an almost brutally economical edit and in sharp, precise writing which provides narrative elements and deftly sketches character before moving busily on. — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026 Aristide deftly brings her parallel storylines ever-closer until lives converge in the satisfying finale. — Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026 But Roy’s story of Annie (Arjun Raina), a New Delhi architecture student caught in a vicious cycle of failing and repeating his studies, gradually reveals itself as a sharp and poignant portrayal of youth, deftly poised between hope and cynicism. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026 The view changes as the ship’s pilots deftly navigate worlds — or at least try to — like the metropolis of Coruscant and the deserts of Tatooine. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 After another two minutes of dangerous Machado Garry strikes, Makhachev deftly tripped the challenger and quickly scrambled to take Machado Garry’s back, where Makhachev stayed stapled until the horn sounded and Silva’s record was rewritten. — Mark Puleo, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deftly
  1. masterfully
  2. skillfully
  3. well
  4. artfully
  5. neatly
  6. adroitly
  7. expertly
  8. capably
Adverb
  • Yet Parton masterfully stayed out of every fight in the culture wars, preaching love, philanthropy, mentorship and tolerance until her dying breath.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Every spoonful is masterfully balanced, slicking your lips with moreish flavor.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of masterfully
Adverb
  • My servers, Simon Yun and Michael Richards, skillfully handled busy dining rooms from the first seating on a Friday evening to the last seating on a Tuesday night.
    — Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • At this unassuming spot in Jardim Botânico, Sudbrack skillfully uses a traditional clay oven to draw remarkable flavors from the simplest of seasonal, fresh, and local ingredients.
    — Mikael Castro, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of skillfully
Adverb
  • SoCal likely in the clear A red blob on the hurricane center's forecast map well south of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula represents a developing tropical system, one that some models show could eventually impact California.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • It’s been a decade since the company best known for sucking up hair balls and dust bunnies blew with great force into the beauty business.
    — Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of well
Adverb
  • The rear view resolves nicely with two tidily tucked exhaust tips and artfully sculpted surfacing.
    — Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026
  • This shift inspires a fresh collection of cocktail ideas, artfully blending vibrant summer fruits like pineapple, peach, and grapefruit with autumnal notes of cranberry and maraschino cherry.
    — John Kell, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of artfully
Adverb
  • Twin wood-burning ovens at the heart of the restaurant neatly showcase this vision.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026
  • And those two signings fit neatly alongside the other additions from this summer, particularly given they are already established in the Premier League.
    — David Ornstein, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of neatly
Adverb
  • 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
  • Shrines, Puzzles, and a Sprawling World The Adventures of Elliot adroitly fuses sharp combat with intricate puzzle-solving, further cementing the Zelda feel.
    — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 18 May 2026
Definition of adroitly
Adverb
  • In the clip, Lee expertly beats on a bongo while Limbani responds with eager rhythmic dancing.
    — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Those figures come from a report issued in June 2025 by the Los Angeles County grand jury (and expertly parsed by filmmaker Nick Andert on YouTube).
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of expertly
Adverb
  • Bryant capably replaced Will Campbell as the starting left tackle for one practice, and continues to be solid in 1-on-1 pass rush.
    — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
  • His professional background is in private equity, and LAFC, the team he's been with since its founding in 2014, which is widely regarded as one of the most capably run franchises in MLS.
    — Becky Sullivan, NPR, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of capably

Browse Nearby Words

deft
deftly
deftness
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Cite this Entry

“Deftly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deftly. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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