dexterous
Good with hands
Dexterous means skillful with the hands—able to perform precise movements with ease and coordination: a dexterous surgeon, dexterous fingers on the piano keys.
The meaning extends to mental agility: a dexterous negotiator, dexterous handling of a sensitive topic.
Also spelled dextrous.
Manually agile and precise
- adroitMentally or physically nimble
- deftSkillful and quick
- handyUseful and nearby
- sure-handedSkilled at grasping
steady-handed · precise · delicate · careful · controlled · coordinated · tactile · fingertip
Quick and light-moving
- litheSupple and graceful
- suppleFlexing without damage
- flexibleAble to bend freely
- quickMoving with speed
spry · light-footed · graceful · catlike · acrobatic · coordinated · swift · fleet
Highly capable, well-versed
- proficientHaving practiced ability
- expertHighly skilled practitioner
- masterfulHighly skilled and authoritative
- accomplishedHighly skilled, expert
capable · competent · polished · practiced · talented · skilled · versatile · precise
Skillful hand-based illusions
- legerdemainSkillful hand-based deception
- conjuringPerforming magical illusions
- palmingHiding object in hand
- card tricksDeceptive feats with decks
coin tricks · flourishes · misdirection · magic · illusionist · pickpocketing · juggling · sleight of hand
Skilled manual tradesperson
- handmadeCreated manually, not mechanically
- carpentryWood construction trade
- potteryFired clay objects
- weavingInterlacing strands into fabric
woodworking · embroidery · knitting · glassblowing · ceramics · leatherwork · engraving · beadwork
nimble-fingered
Manually agile and precise
sure-handed · steady-handed · precise · delicate · careful · controlled · coordinated · tactile · fingertip · grip
nimble
Quick and light-moving
quick · spry · light-footed · graceful · catlike · acrobatic · coordinated · swift · fleet · athletic
adept
Highly capable, well-versed
- proficientHaving practiced ability
- expertHighly skilled practitioner
- masterfulHighly skilled and authoritative
accomplished · capable · competent · polished · practiced · talented · skilled · versatile · precise · meticulous
prestidigitation
Skillful hand-based illusions
- legerdemainSkillful hand-based deception
- conjuringPerforming magical illusions
- palmingHiding object in hand
card tricks · coin tricks · flourishes · misdirection · magic · illusionist · pickpocketing · juggling · sleight of hand · manipulation
artisan
Skilled manual tradesperson
weaving · woodworking · embroidery · knitting · glassblowing · ceramics · leatherwork · engraving · beadwork · origami
- agilityagile, nimble, quick, lithe, spry
- dexteritynimble, agile, adroit, deft, nimbleness
- skill levelsbeginner, novice, intermediate, expert, advanced
- skilled traitsexpert, skilled, adept, proficient, masterful
- fitnessfitness, exercise, gym, workout, running
- primate traitsopposable thumbs, grasping hands, prehensile, binocular vision, arboreal
dexterousclumsy
Lacking physical coordination
awkward · uncoordinated · ham-fisted · butterfingered · fumbling
dexterousinept
Lacking skill or competence
incompetent · unskilled · inexpert · unable · unskillful