Synonyms of finagle

finagle

verb

fə-ˈnā-gəl 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• negotiate
• arrange
• manipulate
• engineer
• manage
• wangle
• maneuver
• contrive
• plot
• finesse
• conclude
• frame
• machinate
• mastermind
• scheme
• concoct
• concert
• connive
• conduct
• handle
• hammer out
• work out
• hatch
• direct
• intrigue
• compass
• angle (for)
• brew
• cook (up)
• run
• command
• gerrymander
• quarterback
• captain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• botch
• mangle
• blow
• butcher
• bungle
• gum (up)
• fumble
• mishandle
• mess (up)
• flub
• muff
• louse up
• bobble

2

as in to cheat

to use dishonest methods to achieve a goal

she'll finagle until she gets exactly what she wants

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cheat
• fudge
• evade
• distort
• crib
• falsify
• chicane
• misrepresent
• elaborate
• pad
• misinterpret
• exaggerate
• embellish
• misstate
• embroider
• dodge
• warp
• pervert
• stretch
• tamper (with)
• fake
• twist
• color
• magnify
• hedge
• doctor

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of finagle

In Europe with friends, Reed finagled his way into the Venice Film Festival in 1965 and interviewed Buster Keaton and Jean-Paul Belmondo. — Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026

Try finagling these parts out, or read the manual for your model to see if this is an option. — Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano, The Spruce, 11 May 2026

That's a reasonable take, but getting to the point of expanding the postseason once again is going to take some finagling at this time. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026

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