Dexterous; skilful; expert in the use of the hand, and hence of the mind; ingenious; ready in invention or execution; possessing readiness of resource.
Synonyms Cunning, Artful, Sly, etc. See cunning. Adroit, Dexterous, Expert, Skilful, Clever, smart, handy, apt, quick, subtle. The first four words express primarily various degrees in the combination of manual facility with knowledge. Adroit and dexterous make prominent the idea of a trained hand: as, an adroit pickpocket; a dexterous conjurer, swordsman. Adroitness implies quickness or suddenness; dexterity may require sustained agility. Adroit tends toward sinister figurative meanings: as, an adroit rogue; but mental adroitness may be simply address or tact. Expert emphasizes experience, practice, and hence is commonly a lower word than skilful, which makes knowledge the principal thing: a skilful mechanic makes more use of his mind than an expert mechanic. Clever implies notable quickness, readiness, resource in practical affairs, and sometimes the lack of the larger powers of mind: a clever mechanic has fertility in planning and skill in executing what is planned. A clever statesman may or may not be an able one; a man may be clever in evil.