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
Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 25 July 2025
Maipo first found its fame with great Cabernet Sauvignon, powerful wines, yet this Floresta illustrates the fresher style with finesse.
—Cathrine Todd, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
Carl Anka, New York Times, 22 May 2025
With all of these looks, there was definitely a collaboration with hair department and with makeup just to complete and finesse these looks.
—Hedy Phillips, People.com, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Noun
The group, consisting of Bradley, Shade, Landon, Malik, had a tight bond once leaving the booths and singing Bruno Mars’ finesse with their effervescent soul.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 25 July 2025
Maipo first found its fame with great Cabernet Sauvignon, powerful wines, yet this Floresta illustrates the fresher style with finesse.
—Cathrine Todd, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
Verb
That may come with minor benefits — more time on the training pitch to finesse tactics and playing methods.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 22 May 2025
With all of these looks, there was definitely a collaboration with hair department and with makeup just to complete and finesse these looks.
—Hedy Phillips, People.com, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finesse
Noun
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Your ability to affect the world and be happy is not determined by an arbitrary system that is not set up for your benefit.—
Mary Frances Ruskell,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
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At right-back, there is still no established first-choice, but Matheus Nunes is quicker and has more ability to join the attack than Rico Lewis, which was the direction the team were moving in towards the end of last season.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Another few weeks of Russian infantry assaults could achieve that goal, allowing Putin to negotiate with the U.S. and Ukraine from a position of greater advantage.—
Simon Shuster,
Time,
16 Aug. 2025
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Until a decade ago, every La Liga club negotiated its own TV agreement, leading to enormous revenue disparities.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Scammers distribute invitations to food truck owners through Gmail accounts, often using multiple email addresses to evade scam blocking filters.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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The other, finished in Sebring Orange, was able to evade authorities briefly but was eventually located three hours away in Martin County, Indiana.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Ivan Angulo has been the starter in the left wing position, but Spicer’s attacking prowess and ability to control possession have earned him more playing time.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Aug. 2025
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Dance Mom is an excellent example of this designer’s prowess.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Gerrymandering is when politicians manipulate district lines, dividing or grouping populations, to get an advantage.—
Larry Kaplow,
NPR,
18 Aug. 2025
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This included reporting that the company manipulated vote counts, is owned by a company founded in Venezuela to rig elections for Hugo Chavez, is paid kickbacks to government officials who used its machines in swing states and was involved in voting irregularities in Texas in 2018.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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That ambiguity reflects a desire to maintain strategic flexibility and avoid premature entanglement in a potential war.—
Frank Lavin,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
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But typically, the Russian leader – a former intelligence officer with the Soviet Union’s security service, the KGB – uses translators to avoid speaking in English during diplomatic conversations.—
Katharina Krebs,
CNN Money,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Perhaps most intriguing is the prelim card's opening bout between submission guru Chase Hooper and wrestling talent Alexander Hernandez at lightweight.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
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Hines would have fit the bill–even without elite talent–but this development changes things.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Thanks to its all-wheel suspension, front-locking wheels, and shock-absorbing tires that never go flat, the Mockingbird is easy to maneuver.—
Laura Lu,
Parents,
14 Aug. 2025
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Endurance then began maneuvering its way back to Earth, setting up its splashdown today.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Finesse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finesse. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.
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