Adroit
adjective /əˈdrɔɪt/ — Clever and skillful, especially in using words or hands.
Definition
Cleverly or skilfully done — particularly the quality of handling a difficult situation or task with ease and intelligence. Adroit thinking, adroit negotiating, adroit movement: all share the quality of skilled ease.
Beyond the definition
Adroit is the compliment for the person who makes things look easy. The adroit debater finds the exact word; the adroit diplomat navigates the exact route; the adroit craftsman makes the exact thing. The skill is real; the ease is evidence of it.
Origin & history
French 'adroit' — from 'à droit' (to the right, righthand side). Literally 'right-handed' — since the right hand was traditionally associated with skill and dexterity.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She was adroit in difficult conversations — never brutal, never dishonest, always finding the right path.
His adroit handling of the negotiations preserved the relationship while achieving the outcome.
Adroit is the word for skill that doesn't announce itself.
Synonyms
Antonyms
clumsy, inept, awkward
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Expert chef preparing vegetables
An adult chef at a stainless steel prep station juliennes vegetables with sharp, precise, and highly efficient movements.
The chef’s effortless, precise handling of the knife is adroit, showcasing the intelligence and skill that comes with expertise. The efficiency of the movement demonstrates how technical difficulty is managed with a ease that is both professional and masterfully performed.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration