deft

Meaning

Quick and neat in action; skillful.

Synonyms

dexterous

adroit

skillful

dextrous

skilful

skilled

quick

proficient

nimble

agile

handy

prompt

clever

adept

efficient

masterful

able

spry

swift

rapid

energetic

great at

cunning

practiced

smart

slick

skeely

accomplished

active

artful

astute

canny

capable

competent

consummate

crafty

daedal

expert

fast

hot

🥵

ingenious

lively

manipulator

neat

practised

sharp

shrewd

slicker

smooth

sure-handed

under one’s belt

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dɛft/

Etymology

From Middle English defte, daft (“gentle”), from Old English dæfte (“mild, gentle, meek”), from Proto-West Germanic *daftī (“fitting, suitable”), derived from *dabaną (“to be suitable”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰh₂ebʰ- (“fitting, fit together”). Near cognates include Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌳𐍉𐍆𐍃 (gadōfs, “suitable”), West Frisian deftich (“distinguished”), Dutch deftig (“distinguished”), German deftig (“coarse”). Further cognates include Russian добро (dobro, “wealth, good”) and Latin faber (“craftsman; skillful”).