handles 1 of 2

Definition of handlesnext
present tense third-person singular of handle
1
2
as in treats
to behave toward in a stated way handles all requests professionally, even when customers are rude

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in operates
to control the mechanical operation of learned how to handle basic woodworking power tools

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
5
6

handles

2 of 2

noun

plural of handle

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of handles
Verb
One person handles the hotel, another takes on excursions, another manages dining. Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026 Instead of micromanaging every finger, humans provide high-level input while the AI handles coordination. Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026 The site handles advertising, booking and payments, in exchange for a 30% fee. Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026 The Secretary of State also handles business registrations. John Seiler, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026 Today, a robotic system handles the cutting with precision born of thousands of prior procedures, while the human surgeon focuses entirely on judgment, risk assessment, and the decisions that require a human mind. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026 The site also handles general cargo and other exports propping up Russia's economy. Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026 Peter took on marketing and Gina handles social media. Edie Kasten, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026 The other port only handles 280-Mbps transfers and can’t be used for a display. Dwight Silverman, Houston Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
Its handles stay cool for safe handling and are double-riveted for durability. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026 Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy The journey to the titanium spork wound through Hollywood, forks with knives for handles, and a bizarre American craze for turtle soup. James Stout, Outside, 29 Mar. 2026 Our Top Makeup Brush Sets When the brushes are thoughtfully designed—think soft, dense fibers and sturdy handles—blending tends to be easier, and your makeup looks that much more polished. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 Mar. 2026 This season, the east-west bag arrives in a range of compelling iterations, from sleek barrel bag shapes to structured top-handles—in a variety of sizes, hues, and materials to suit every wardrobe. Minty Mellon, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2026 And stamps fixed to large wooden handles. Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026 After the crash, a friend who was driving behind the Cybertruck desperately tried to free Miller from the burning vehicle, but could not open the doors because there were no external handles. Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026 All that, of course, was still combined with light weighting measures such as a manual folding top and nylon straps instead of door handles and an even more aggressive body kit. Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2026 And touchpoints do both—the steering wheel feels nice and tough, so too do the seats and door handles. Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handles
Verb
  • Twenty years after her diagnosis, Stones manages the condition through regular exercise and good nutrition and advocates for bone health, developing bone-friendly recipes inspired by her love of baking and shared with the Royal Osteoporosis Society in the United Kingdom.
    Hadia Zainab, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Officials state the move will place leadership closer to the Western lands the agency manages and improve its mission.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The script, by Ed Solomon, treats the Sklar siblings as cardboard grotesques—heartless, talentless, united in their loathing of a father who loathes them right back.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Peterson is that archetype, and Tankathon’s board treats him like the kind of lead option who can reset a rebuild quickly.
    C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Miles is a brilliant basketball player, comparable to a painter or actor with her showmanship on the court and a mind that operates at a different level than most other athletes.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Summit Huts already operates five backcountry huts in Summit County and will fundraise to build the Frisco hut.
    John Meyer, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • At Fordham University, hundreds of female students gather for Smart Women Securities meets to learn about analyzing equities and financial statements, according to Rosa Romeo, a Fordham accounting professor who supervises the group.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the Minnesota State Patrol, which supervises security at the Capitol complex, had a more conservative estimate of around 100,000.
    Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The facility currently only accepts trash from municipalities, not individual residents.
    John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
  • For those who are not able to give instruments, the conservatory accepts monetary donations to its instrument repair fund.
    Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Michel now oversees Larkin’s graduate medical educational programs and is chairman of Larkin University, which is governed separately from the hospital, said Smith, the hospital’s attorney.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Georgia is one of just three states that oversees its ash disposal program, which environmentalists have long criticized.
    Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The states with the highest rates have utility rate commissions that do not seem to be able to come to grips with how to charge the data center operators.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
  • The industry still cannot come to grips with the previously unfathomable scenario of the strait staying shuttered for a prolonged period of time.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Brooklyn was missing its usual names, too.
    C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
  • At the very least NESN did a better job designing its new scorebug than the one Netflix used on its Opening Night broadcast, where viewers needed a microscope to read the pitcher and batters’ names, the pitch count and pretty much everything else outside of the score.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Handles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handles. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on handles

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster