deft

As I wrote in Salon a couple of years ago, Madison knew what he was doing, and he was deft in his use of English.

From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2026

Greenspan exhibited a deft touch with financial markets, saying the barest minimum in his statements but seemingly always conveying what traders wanted to hear.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026

It trafficks in irony and shows a deft touch with dialogue.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

It was not just about brute force, though, there were deft touches too.

From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2026

The greatest American scientist, the most deft diplomat, the most accomplished prose stylist, the sharpest wit, Franklin defied all the categories by inhabiting them all with such distinction and nonchalant grace.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Andrew Bayliss, the author of “Sparta: The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Superpower,” is a defter writer than Xenophon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026

In between the defter displays, Johnny Rockett, the clown, lampoons various circus skills.

From New York Times ● Nov. 25, 2022

But that may explain why it ultimately feels like the defter, more surefooted film, and one whose subtle depths and lingering emotions belie the diminished platform to which it’s essentially been relegated.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 8, 2022

Whatever one may wonder about Özil’s motivations, he has shown a defter touch on social media than most of his teammates have managed on the pitch since the season began.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 30, 2020

Fair English hands can copy every trick of ancient artistry: finger-skill was never defter, will was never more ardent to do fine things, than now.

From Arts and Crafts Essays by Members of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society by Various

The online blurb says the book is a "darkly humorous novel that uses the deftest touch to draw a thread through the lives of Welsh farmers, city accountants, Indian hoteliers and Eisteddfod mums".

From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2026

The skill with which Friedan connects the dots between the subjugation of intelligent, educated women and the ruthless, calculated mind-numbing agenda of consumerism turns out to be her deftest move.

From Salon ● Jan. 5, 2025

Jay Roach’s movie follows the tribulations—and exhausted triumphs—of Dalton Trumbo, one of the deftest of American screenwriters.

From The New Yorker ● Nov. 9, 2015

Diego Valeri introduced himself with the deftest of touches against New York Red Bulls last week, as he scored a wonderful goal within 15 minutes of kicking off his first competitive Timbers game.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 8, 2013

It was a little pocket match-safe, but it is more precious in his eyes than pearls, aye, than much fine gold or his reputation as perhaps the deftest writer of dialogue on the American stage.

From Penguin Persons & Peppermints by Eaton, Walter Prichard