mental dexterity
Học thuậtThân thiện
A chess player demonstrates mental dexterity by planning several moves ahead.
Definition
Noun: * Mental agility and quickness: The ability to think quickly, clearly, and effectively; characterized by sharpness of mind, intellectual nimbleness, and the capacity to understand and adapt to new ideas or situations with speed and ease.
Usage
This noun is used to describe a person's cognitive speed and flexibility. It is often applied in contexts requiring quick problem-solving, learning, or witty conversation. * It is typically used in a positive, admiring sense. * It is often paired with verbs like demonstrate, require, possess, or show.
Examples
- Solving complex puzzles under time pressure requires considerable mental dexterity.
- The lawyer was admired for her mental dexterity during cross-examination.
- His mental dexterity allowed him to master new software languages rapidly.
- The game is designed to test and improve your mental dexterity.
Advanced Usage
- Conceptual application: The term can be extended beyond simple problem-solving to describe agility in abstract thinking, such as switching between different theoretical frameworks or creative concepts.
- The philosopher's mental dexterity was evident in how she could deconstruct an argument from multiple perspectives.
Variants and Related Words
- Dexterous (adj): Skillful with the hands or, by extension, the mind. (e.g., ).
- Nimbleness (n): The quality of being quick and light in movement or thought. Often used synonymously with in cognitive contexts.
- Agility (n): The ability to move quickly and easily. When prefaced with "mental," it forms a near-synonymous phrase.
Synonyms
- Quick-wittedness
- Mental agility
- Sharpness
- Acumen
- Cleverness
Antonyms
- Mental slowness
- Dullness
- Obtuseness
- Heaviness of mind
Related Idioms & Phrases
- Quick on the uptake: Quick to understand or learn.
- Have a nimble mind: To possess mental dexterity.
- Think on one's feet: To think and react quickly, especially in an unexpected situation.
A chess player demonstrates mental dexterity by planning several moves ahead.
Noun
- intelligence as revealed by quickness and alertness of mind
- nimbleness of wit and imagination