dexterously

D2E1X8T1E1R1O1U1S1L1Y4
/ˈdɛkst(ə)ɹəsli/

adverb

In a dexterous manner; skillfully; with precision.

RareScrabble 22

Meanings

adverbdexterously (comparative more dexterously, superlative most dexterously)

comparative more dexterously · superlative most dexterously

  1. In a dexterous manner; skillfully; with precision.

    He ducked dexterously, and the stool crashed to its own detriment against the wall.

    1907, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Human Toll (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 264
    1 more example

    Very interested, Dr Grimsby watched the saw follow the fine pencil line on the white pearwood as Peter dexterously twirled the veneers on the fretwork table, timing the movement of both hands precisely to put no strain on either the saw or the wood.

    1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 77

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbwith dexterity; in a dexterous manner

Also see

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*déḱs
  2. Proto-Indo-European*deḱs-terós
  3. Proto-Italic*deksteros
  4. Latindexter
  5. Englishdexterous
  6. Englishdexterously

From dexterous + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan destrament
  • destramentin a dexterious manner
Czech obratně
  • obratněin a dexterious manner
Estonian osavalt
  • osavaltin a dexterious manner
Finnish kätevästi, näppärästi
  • kätevästiin a dexterious manner
  • näppärästiin a dexterious manner
  • taitavastiin a dexterious manner
  • ketterästiin a dexterious manner
French adroitement, avec dextérité
  • adroitementin a dexterious manner
  • avec dextéritéin a dexterious manner
German gewandt, geschickt
  • gewandtin a dexterious manner
  • geschicktin a dexterious manner
Italian destramente, con destrezza
  • destramentein a dexterious manner
  • con destrezzain a dexterious manner
Polish zręcznie
  • zręczniein a dexterious manner
Portuguese destramente, com destreza
  • destramentein a dexterious manner
  • com destrezain a dexterious manner
Russian проворно
  • проворно (provorno)in a dexterious manner
Spanish diestramente, con destreza
  • diestramentein a dexterious manner
  • con destrezain a dexterious manner
Cite this entry
APA

dexterously. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dexterously

MLA

“dexterously.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dexterously. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dexterously,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dexterously.

Source: dexterously on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.