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View synonyms for nimble

nimble

[ nim-buhl ]

adjective

, nim·bler, nim·blest.
  1. quick and light in movement; moving with ease; agile; active; rapid:

    nimble feet.

    Synonyms: spry, sprightly, brisk, lively

    Antonyms: ungainly, clumsy

  2. quick to understand, think, devise, etc.:

    a nimble mind.

    Synonyms: keen, sharp, quick-witted

  3. cleverly contrived:

    a story with a nimble plot.



nimble

/ ˈnɪmbəl /

adjective

  1. agile, quick, and neat in movement

    nimble fingers

  2. alert; acute

    a nimble intellect



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Derived Forms

  • ˈnimbly, adverb
  • ˈnimbleness, noun

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Other Words From

  • nim·ble·ness noun
  • nim·bly adverb
  • un·nim·ble adjective
  • un·nim·ble·ness noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of nimble1

First recorded before 1000; late Middle English nymel, earlier nemel, Old English nǣmel “capable,” equivalent to nǣm- (variant stem of niman “to take”; nim 1 ) + -el -le

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Word History and Origins

Origin of nimble1

Old English nǣmel quick to grasp, and numol quick at seizing, both from niman to take

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Example Sentences

It zips like all comedies seem to zip today, quick and nimble, its tone affectionate snark.

The best politics here is to be principled, nimble, and shrewd.

Here, the brainiacs were ridiculed and the hairy nimble beasts ruled the day.

“Indies have low overhead, are nimble, and rarely work by committees,” Spillman says.

The U.S. appears slow-witted on this, and the Qataris appear quick and nimble.

He was a pretty bright sort, that same Goodell, quick-witted, nimble of tongue above the average Englishman.

He is such a nimble little fellow that he did this several times, and hardly ever failed.

As for poor Dolly, if he catches her and tries to convert her to his ideas, the child has nimble feet and can run.

He came up laboriously—the more laboriously by virtue of his very efforts to show himself still nimble in his mistress's eyes.

Nimble-finger never finished that bone-handled hunting knife.

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