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
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Mar. 2025
The drink list leans heavily into rum and Latin spirits, delivering cocktails that hold their own against the fire and finesse of the kitchen.
—Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Leah Dolan, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025
Could that clunky, creepy dialogue not have been finessed a little?
—Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Noun
Was there one technical thing about the process that required an even higher level of choreography and finesse in the fourth episode?
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Mar. 2025
The drink list leans heavily into rum and Latin spirits, delivering cocktails that hold their own against the fire and finesse of the kitchen.
—Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
Yet, in the last few years, an increasing number of younger people have been seeking out the surgery — not as an anti-aging method but to finesse their features, having grown up in an extremely digital world where their physical appearances are constantly on show.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025
Could that clunky, creepy dialogue not have been finessed a little?
—Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 19 Mar. 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
-
Ashwagandha is enjoying a moment in the wellness spotlight, with a 254% increase in Google searches around its ability to improve sleep during the past few months.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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His special envoy to Ukraine set a goal of negotiating an agreement even quicker during the first 100 days of Trump's term.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
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Despite being just as qualified as their male counterparts, women are significantly less likely to compete at work—whether that means applying for executive roles, asking for promotions, or negotiating higher pay.—
Maggie McGrath,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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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
-
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has suspended a judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
While state courts have increasingly dismissed climate lawsuits as meritless, superfund laws are growing in popularity as another way to gut U.S. energy prowess.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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Beyond changes in personnel, another force has worked to suppress the EU’s regulatory prowess: the imperative of competitiveness.—
ANU BRADFORD,
Foreign Affairs,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
It could be manipulated by the therapist or simply placed in the correct position by the individual.—
Matt Parrott,
Arkansas Online,
20 Apr. 2025
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These are powers that many politicians – including, currently, U.S. President Donald Trump – would seemingly like to control or at least manipulate.—
Ana Carolina Garriga,
The Conversation,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Houston threw numbers behind the ball for most of the game to avoid getting hit by the deadly counterattacks and transitions KC has been known for.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2025
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Get to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Alabama is still Alabama, with plenty of talent on hand and a coach who has won everywhere he’s been.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
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
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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 3 May. 2025.
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