Definition of FINESSE

Finesse Started Out as a Noun

Verb

Finesse was a noun for more than 200 years before it became a verb. In the early 16th century the noun finesse was used to refer to refinement or delicacy of workmanship, structure, or texture. Soon thereafter it developed the "skillful handling of a situation" meaning most common today. The first use of the verb finesse, however, was not as a corollary of one of these meanings. Instead, its meaning had to do with cards: if you finesse in a game like bridge or whist, you withhold your highest card or trump in the hope that a lower card will take the trick because the only opposing higher card is in the hand of an opponent who has already played. The other verb meanings of finesse developed within a few decades of this one.

Examples of finesse in a Sentence

Noun

She handled the interview questions with finesse. maneuvered his opponent into checkmate with his customary finesse

Verb

He managed to finesse a deal through bargaining. She is just trying to finesse the issue.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Among the breakout superstars of the 2018 Winter Olympics was 17-year-old snowboarder Chloe Kim, whose Valley Girl vibe almost belied her technical gold-medal finesse and, by all accounts, indefatigable work ethic. — Mari Uyehara, GQ, "How Title IX Gave Rise to the Dad Fan," 11 June 2018 Boggs demonstrated her finesse when the Equal Credit Opportunity Act came before her committee. — John Pope, NOLA.com, "'Grace was in her DNA, grace was in her steps, and heaven was in her eyes'," 1 Apr. 2018 With Monteagudo on the serve, Coburn sliced through their defense, showcasing both power and finesse – a wall with offense. — Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "Matrka, Zinn take women's doubles title at The Met," 13 July 2018 Without taking a touch on Ronaldinho's through ball, Rivaldo opened up his body, allowing his left foot to take centre stage, curling the ball round Seaman with exquisite finesse. 1-1, game on. — SI.com, "On This Day: 21st June - Ronaldinho Wonder Free-Kick Dumps England Out of 2002 World Cup," 21 June 2018 Its youthful attitude connected with young drivers who appreciated its German-driving finesse. — Mark Maynard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "2019 Volkswagen Jetta: 7th generation wide-body reboot," 6 July 2018 The Russos don’t have the finesse to pull them off. — Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, "'Avengers: Infinity War' review: Marvel's semi-infinite jest, capped by a sucker punch," 24 Apr. 2018 Watch and see this fabulous crew take on all our challenges with finesse. — Wendy Sy, Allure, "Watch the "Queer Eye" Fab Five Try 9 They've Never Done Before," 28 June 2018 Cardi B never fails to go all out with her hair and makeup looks, which are truly always manages to be dripping in finesse. — Helena Yeung, Teen Vogue, "Cardi B Wears Platinum Blond and Pink Hair in "Be Careful" Music Video," 22 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

But Saarinen finessed the problem rather like corporate architects today finesse the problem of housing large, impersonal, often rapacious organizations in buildings that suggests transparency, openness and idealism. — Philip Kennicott, kansascity, "St. Louis’ Gateway Arch emerges with new name, skeptical view of western expansion," 3 July 2018 The argument can easily be shifted, although players have not been able to finesse that to this point. 2. — Andrew Brandt, SI.com, "How NFL and NBA Contracts Differ, and What NFL Players Can Do to Change It," 10 July 2018 But Saarinen finessed the problem rather like corporate architects today finesse the problem of housing large, impersonal, often rapacious organizations in buildings that suggests transparency, openness and idealism. — Philip Kennicott, kansascity, "St. Louis’ Gateway Arch emerges with new name, skeptical view of western expansion," 3 July 2018 Using off-the-shelf components like 3D cameras and robotic arms with force sensors, the robots are able to differentiate between parts and assemble them with a dexterity and finesse elusive to most bots. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Finally, robots that can assemble your Ikea furniture," 23 Apr. 2018 But even with a unit that was working as Parrot designed it to, the Anafi lacks the refinement and finesse you get with DJI’s Mavic Air. — Vjeran Pavic, The Verge, "Parrot Anafi drone review: flying high, but falling short," 2 July 2018 But Saarinen finessed the problem rather like corporate architects today finesse the problem of housing large, impersonal, often rapacious organizations in buildings that suggests transparency, openness and idealism. — Philip Kennicott, chicagotribune.com, "50 years later, the St. Louis Arch emerges with a new name and a skeptical view of western expansion," 26 June 2018 When President George Bridges saw an internal email outlining these numbers, his impulse was to get the public-relations department to finesse them. — Jillian Kay Melchior, WSJ, "Rough Social Justice at Evergreen State," 22 May 2018 But for this week’s big premiere, Atwell was equipped like a royal with a stylist (Micaela Erlanger) and a glam team (hair by Chris Naselli and makeup by Gita Bass) to finesse her ensemble. — Edward Barsamian, Vogue, "Inside the Howards End Premiere with its Star Hayley Atwell," 6 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'finesse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for finesse

Noun

Middle English, "fineness," borrowed from Middle French, "fineness, subtlety, ruse, trick," from fin fine entry 3 + -esse, suffix forming abstract nouns from adjectives, going back to Latin -itia (with phonetic development as if from -icia) — more at -ice

Verb