1
as in to negotiate
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care
let me look at my schedule and see if I can't finagle a visit to the museum
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cheat
to use dishonest methods to achieve a goal
she'll finagle until she gets exactly what she wants
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of finagle
Other songs are less terminally online and more reminiscent of finagling fake IDs and getting blitzed on the LES.
—
Lydia Wei, Pitchfork, 20 Feb. 2026
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski likes to finagle with footwork in his free time, studying and practicing patterns that help him outwit defenders on the basketball court.
—Sam Gordon, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Jan. 2026
And somehow that felt easier to finagle than this.
—Samantha Leal, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
Save them the struggle of having to finagle with a manual wine bottle opener.
—Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finagle
Lydia Wei, Pitchfork, 20 Feb. 2026
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski likes to finagle with footwork in his free time, studying and practicing patterns that help him outwit defenders on the basketball court.
—Sam Gordon, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Jan. 2026
And somehow that felt easier to finagle than this.
—Samantha Leal, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
Save them the struggle of having to finagle with a manual wine bottle opener.
—Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finagle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finagle
Verb
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Whether the teams ultimately relocate or negotiate new arrangements to stay, the 2026 World Cup offers a unique moment to experience this venue in a completely different context.—
Taylor Haught,
Kansas City Star,
21 Apr. 2026
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Vance had been slated to travel alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner to lead a US delegation to negotiate with Iranian officials.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Notice something small, then compliment it This one is almost cheating.—
Henna Pryor,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
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Naumann also did Loughlin’s hair for this March outing, which marked the mother and daughters’ first red-carpet appearance together since the 2019 college admissions cheating scandal.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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According to court documents, transport for the embryo is being arranged for early May.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
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Jones also irritated House leaders by ignoring a plan to continue using Georgia's voting machines for one more year until replacements can be arranged, creating the possibility of a dicey election-season special session.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But there is a point where the prediction shapes and manipulates the actual outcome.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
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Bronze Age symbolizes a time of change Bronze, a raw material, was skillfully manipulated to create objects that not only carried weight but also meaning.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Finagle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finagle. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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