adroit
/əˈdrɔɪt
/adjective
Clever or skilful: he was adroit at tax avoidance...
- Even the most clever, adroit, and skillful legislature cannot achieve zero risk in human affairs.
- My hands are bigger, and more adroit, with nimble fingers that can tie shoes, unwrap candies, and get the sand out from between my toes before we leave the beach.
- The adroit and intelligent use of other men's work, says Prodwit, ‘leads to public applause and adequate remuneration.’
Synonyms
skilful, adept, dexterous, deft, agile, nimble, nimble-fingered, handy;
able, capable, competent, skilled, expert, masterly, masterful, master, practised, polished, slick, proficient, accomplished, gifted, talented, peerless;
quick-witted, quick-thinking, quick, clever, intelligent, brilliant, bright, smart, sharp, cunning, artful, wily, resourceful, astute, shrewd, canny, ingenious, inventive
informal nifty, nippy, crack, mean, wicked, wizard, demon, ace, A1, on the ball, savvy, genius
North American informal crackerjack
archaic compleat, rathe
Origin
Mid 17th century: from French, from à droit 'according to right, properly'.
This is an adoption from French, from the phrase à droit ‘according to right’, ‘properly’.