Synonyms of handle

handle 1 of 2

verb

1

as in to manage

to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently

as host of a live TV talk show, she must handle any situation that comes up

Synonyms & Similar Words

• manage
• manipulate
• address
• treat
• negotiate
• take
• play
• maneuver
• cope (with)
• field
• swing
• hack
• contend (with)
• grapple (with)
• come to grips with
• pull
• control
• regulate
• have a grip on
• carry out
• steer
• engineer
• get off
• carry off
• guide
• direct
• respond (to)
• finesse
• react (to)
• command
• jockey
• bring off
• run
• micromanage

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fumble
• mishandle
• botch
• bungle
• muff
• goof (up)
• mess (up)
• louse up
• scamp
• foozle

2

as in to treat

to behave toward in a stated way

handles all requests professionally, even when customers are rude

Synonyms & Similar Words

• treat
• serve
• use
• be (to)
• deal (with)
• act (toward)
• regard
• respond (to)
• view
• react (to)
• consider
• engage (with)
• do by
• rate
• reckon
• esteem

3

as in to operate

to control the mechanical operation of

learned how to handle basic woodworking power tools

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operate
• use
• work
• manipulate
• run
• drive
• wield
• control
• steer
• maneuver
• guide
• direct
• ply
• pilot
• command

4

as in to supervise

to look after and make decisions about

she takes care of the flower beds, and he handles all the lawn care

Synonyms & Similar Words

• manage
• operate
• supervise
• oversee
• control
• regulate
• conduct
• run
• govern
• keep
• administer
• direct
• tend
• guide
• protect
• carry on
• administrate
• overlook
• preside (over)
• watch over
• steer
• superintend
• steward
• lead
• watch
• safeguard
• guard
• care (for)
• pilot
• mind
• micromanage
• stage-manage
• codirect
• comanage

5

as in to tolerate

to put up with (something painful or difficult)

I can't handle much more of this foul weather

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tolerate
• accept
• endure
• stand
• take
• sustain
• bear
• absorb
• stomach
• swallow
• meet
• support
• wear
• abide
• stick out
• stand for
• live with
• hack
• lump (it)
• countenance
• go
• sweat out
• bide
• allow
• suffer
• pocket
• permit
• brook
• tough it out
• reconcile (to)
• submit (to)
• yield (to)
• acquiesce
• agree (with or to)
• consent (to)
• respect
• assent (to)
• capitulate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refuse
• dismiss
• reject
• resist
• avoid
• fight
• decline
• combat
• oppose
• repudiate
• escape
• evade
• turn down
• contest
• miss
• circumvent
• bypass
• spurn
• refrain (from)
• dodge
• elude
• abstain (from)
• forbear

6

as in to oversee

to be in charge of

I'll be handling the team's workouts while the leader is on vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• supervise
• oversee
• manage
• steer
• command
• control
• direct
• head
• run
• watch over
• boss
• overlook
• guide
• superintend
• order
• monitor
• administer
• show
• ride herd on
• call the tune (for)
• captain
• call the shots (of)
• quarterback
• govern
• rule
• shepherd
• preside (over)
• reign

handle

2 of 2

noun

ˈhan-dᵊl 

1

as in grip

a part by which an implement is held

was given a set a steak knives with wooden handles

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grip
• hilt
• bow
• loop
• shaft
• helve
• handgrip
• haft
• bar
• bail
• crop
• handlebar
• broomstick
• whipstock

2

as in name

a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known

likes to go by the handle "Champ"

Synonyms & Similar Words

• name
• moniker
• title
• nomenclature
• nickname
• designation
• denomination
• banner
• surname
• pseudonym
• epithet
• appellation
• denotation
• first name
• given name
• family name
• maiden name
• Christian name
• compellation
• tag
• label
• cognomen
• pen name
• appellative
• middle name
• baptismal name
• nom de plume
• diminutive
• alias
• trade name
• brand name
• forename
• sobriquet
• trivial name
• nom de guerre
• binomial
• patronymic
• trademark
• misnomer
• monomial
• vernacular
• matronymic
• hypocorism
• rubric
• cryptonym
• byname

3

as in nickname

a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual

since it seemed decreed that every new firefighter have a handle, his was soon "Hulk"

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nickname
• surname
• epithet
• moniker
• pseudonym
• alias
• tag
• label
• sobriquet
• denomination
• pen name
• title
• cognomen
• byname
• designation
• appellation
• nom de plume
• denotation
• nom de guerre
• anonym

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of handle

Verb

Normally, the Florida Highway Patrol handles crashes on the Overseas Highway, but, according to the incident report, troopers were unable to respond. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

The digital humanities minor launched in 2011, built to handle about 25 students a year. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Noun

The summer crime spike in Boston has Councilor Brian Worrell looking to strategies used in Baltimore, a city long known for violence, for ways to get a handle on recent homicides and mass shootings throughout the Hub. — Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

Size Spatulas come in various sizes with options for both the length of the handle and the surface area of the head. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing handle

• fly off the handle