nimbleness

N1I1M3B3L1E1N1E1S1S1
US/ˈnɪm.bəl.nɪs/

noun

The quality of being nimble.

Opposite
RareScrabble 14

Meanings

nounnimbleness (countable and uncountable, plural nimblenesses)

plural nimblenesses

  1. countableuncountableThe quality of being nimble.

    'Tis better that the Enemie ſeeke vs, So ſhall he waſte his meanes, weary his Souldiers, Doing himſelfe offence, whil'ſt we lying ſtill, Are full of reſt, defence, and nimbleneſſe.

    1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], page 126, column 1
    2 more examples

    Therfoꝛe thus ſaieth the holy one of Iſrael: In as moch as ye haue caſt of youre bewtie, and confoꝛted youre ſelues with power and nymbleneſſe, and put youre confidence therin: therfoꝛe ſhal ye haue this myſchefe agayne foꝛ youre deſtruction and fall, like as an hie wall, that falleth becauſe of ſome rift (oꝛ blaſt,) whoſe bꝛeakinge cometh ſodenly.

    1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Esay [Isaiah] xxx:[12–13], folio xi, recto, column 1

    The three little men came slily up to him, and thought by their nimbleness to get back the cap, but he held his prize fast, and they saw clearly that nothing was to be done in this way with him, for in size and strength John was a giant in comparison of these little fellows, who hardly came up to his knee.

    1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 290

Synonyms & antonyms

antonym(s) of “property of being nimble”

Opposite

nounintelligence as revealed by quickness and alertness of mind

Similar
mental dexterity

nounthe gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishnymmylnes
  2. Englishnimbleness

From Middle English nymmylnes; equivalent to nimble + -ness.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian лекота́, пъргавина́
  • лекота́ (lekotá)the quality of being nimble
  • пъргавина́ (părgaviná)the quality of being nimble
Czech hbitost
  • hbitostthe quality of being nimble
German Wendigkeit, Gewandtheit
  • Wendigkeitthe quality of being nimble
  • Gewandtheitthe quality of being nimble
  • Behändigkeitthe quality of being nimble
  • Beweglichkeitthe quality of being nimble
Irish luaineacht, éascaíocht
  • luaineachtthe quality of being nimble
  • éascaíochtthe quality of being nimble
Italian leggerezza, agilità
  • leggerezzathe quality of being nimble
  • agilitàthe quality of being nimble
  • scioltezzathe quality of being nimble
Latin agilitās, pernīcitās
  • agilitāsthe quality of being nimble
  • pernīcitāsthe quality of being nimble
  • strēnuitāsthe quality of being nimble
Polish zręczność, zwinność
  • zręcznośćthe quality of being nimble
  • zwinnośćthe quality of being nimble
Spanish agilidad
  • agilidadthe quality of being nimble
Cite this entry
APA

nimbleness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nimbleness

MLA

“nimbleness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nimbleness. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nimbleness,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nimbleness.

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