as in ability
mental skill or quickness
maneuvered his opponent into checkmate with his customary finesse
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to negotiate
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care
had to finesse the schedule a bit to fit in another patient that afternoon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to evade
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
tried to finesse the blame for the foreign policy fiasco, even though he was secretary of state at the time
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of finesse
Rachel King, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Prefer lighter, more aromatic reds with earthiness and finesse?
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Pat Thompson, email There is no way to finesse the Avs trading Mikko Rantanen.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Noun
The result is a wine with great aromatic finesse, designed to age for years to come while offering a graceful drinking experience in its youth.
—Rachel King, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Prefer lighter, more aromatic reds with earthiness and finesse?
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
Former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets lobbed it ahead to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who twisted around three Sporting defenders and finessed a shot past keeper John Pulskamp.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Pat Thompson, email There is no way to finesse the Avs trading Mikko Rantanen.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finesse
Noun
-
In today’s dynamic climate of work, career success often depends on your ability to adapt, grow, and make smart choices when the path forward is unclear.—
Amanda Miller Littlejohn,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Expecting perfection, or guarding against our own humanity coming through, is also detrimental to our ability to be present for the good parts of the date.—
Myisha Battle,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Juggling showings, negotiating offers, and hunting for your dream home within budget is an all-consuming task.—
Kristine Gill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 May 2025
-
During his first term, Trump pulled the U.S. out of the nuclear agreement negotiated with Iran by President Barack Obama.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has suspended a judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Apr. 2025
-
The key benefits of integration include: • Enhanced Threat Detection: By unifying security tools, organizations can achieve a holistic view of their threat landscape, enabling the identification of sophisticated attacks that might evade stand-alone systems.—
Bob Kruse,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, his closest associate, Laurent, is the true expert con artist but uses his swindling prowess for good, screwing over only the rich assholes who deserve it.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
2 May 2025
-
Jones went off the board next, courtesy of the Baltimore Ravens, an organization long revered for its drafting prowess.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The book’s vivid digital art, collaged from her own photographs and manipulated in Photoshop, helped children connect with science and nature in new ways.—
Kaitlyn Gomez,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
-
Jewish Voice for Peace is an extremist group that manipulates the Jewish identity of some of its members to support terror, disrupt public life, and undermine the very essence of Jewish faith, identity and tradition.—
Chai Posner,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Until the masses adopt it, fraudsters can simply avoid platforms that require World ID and continue doing business as usual.—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
-
These are the top shades for avoiding sun damage and small talk.—
Scott Gilbertson,
Wired News,
1 May 2025
Noun
-
The New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox are all loaded with talent and have the potential to contend this season.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
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Listen to this article 2 min Kate Middleton demonstrated a hidden talent while on a royal trip to Scotland with her husband, Prince William.—
Elizabeth Stanton,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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By default, the left stick adjusts altitude and rotation, while the right is used for lateral movement, so both hands must work together to maneuver the drone through the air.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Israel seems to be maneuvering toward annexing parts of Gaza and maybe even southern Lebanon, while in Africa, Rwandan troops are pushing into neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.—
Margaret MacMillan,
The Atlantic,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Finesse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finesse. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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