deft

Universal Words adjective (especially written) 1 (of a person's movements) skilful and quick: deft hands / fingers / footwork * He finished off the painting with a few deft strokes of the brush. * In one, deft movement, he had her hand locked behind her back. 2 skilful: her deft command of the language deftly adverb: I threw her a towel which she deftly caught. * They deftly avoided answering my questions. deftness noun [U]