English vocabulary · C1
Adroit
/əˈdrɔɪt/ · adj.
It means skillful and quick — especially in a hard or tricky situation. An adroit person finds the right move at the right moment.
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Example sentences
- Her adroit response stopped the argument immediately.
- He made an adroit move that saved the whole project.
Word origin and roots
from French
- droit — right (from French)
Synonyms and nuances
- SKILLFUL — having great skill (Ability & Craft)
- CLEVER — quick and smart (Mind & Thinking)
- NIMBLE — fast and light in action (Speed & Movement)
Words with the same root
droit — right
- maladroit — clumsy; lacking skill or quickness
Lesson notes
Adroit. It means skillful and quick — especially when dealing with a hard or tricky situation. An adroit person always finds the right move at the right moment.
Similar words are skillful, clever, and nimble. Use adroit when someone handles a hard situation with speed and skill.
Her adroit response stopped the argument immediately. He made an adroit move that saved the whole project.
From French. The root means right. A right hand moving with perfect control shows real skill. That is adroit.