1
as in to negotiate
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care
let me look at my schedule and see if I can't finagle a visit to the museum
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2
as in to cheat
to use dishonest methods to achieve a goal
she'll finagle until she gets exactly what she wants
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Recent Examples of finagle
The suction is strong enough to suck up anything that might finagle its way into your car, including dirt, sand, dust, pet hair, and crumbs.
—
Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
For years, job hoppers could finagle higher pay in new roles.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
This period comedy set in England in the 1930s stars Ben Radcliffe as a thief who swindles his way into a hall boy position at posh Fackham Hall, only to hook up with the daughter of the house and finagle his way into a position of privilege.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026
Riders who might like more oomph aboard Galacticoaster should finagle seats on the back row, which experiences a touch more whip action.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for finagle
Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
For years, job hoppers could finagle higher pay in new roles.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
This period comedy set in England in the 1930s stars Ben Radcliffe as a thief who swindles his way into a hall boy position at posh Fackham Hall, only to hook up with the daughter of the house and finagle his way into a position of privilege.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026
Riders who might like more oomph aboard Galacticoaster should finagle seats on the back row, which experiences a touch more whip action.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for finagle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finagle
Verb
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Canada negotiates lower drug prices for all its citizens under its universal health care system.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
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Again, this could be negotiated.—
Chris McKenna,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Jay Cooke, who had once been lionized for his role in financing the Union victory, was attacked in the press and accused of cheating ordinary Americans out of their savings.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
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The reunion comes 15 years after the couple divorced amid rumors of a cheating scandal.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Angelina Guatemala, 64, counted on federal food stamps after retiring a couple of years ago in Ogden, Kansas, from assorted jobs arranging flowers, decorating cakes in shops, and preparing meals.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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How to Make Homemade Croutons In the Oven Preheat the oven to 450°F and arrange the rack in the middle position.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
Verb
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What online scammers are looking to steal The FBI issued a warning last month that cybercriminals are manipulating or reproducing the official FIFA World Cup website to scam fans who are looking for tickets, hospitality packages, merchandise, streaming access and betting opportunities.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
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Ironically then, the state’s efforts to verify the legitimacy of ballots lengthen the count, which then leads to allegations that the count is being manipulated.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Finagle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finagle. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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