1
as in negotiating
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cheating
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 finagling
Other songs are less terminally online and more reminiscent of finagling fake IDs and getting blitzed on the LES.
—
Lydia Wei, Pitchfork, 20 Feb. 2026
Lydia Wei, Pitchfork, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finagling
Verb
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For example, negotiating a lump-sum settlement directly with the creditor or with the help of a debt settlement company can sometimes resolve a judgment for less than the full amount owed.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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In the filing, O’Connell accused Garza of secretly negotiating with city officials and withholding information that could help clear a police officer set to stand trial this summer — a claim that, if true, could represent a serious breach of prosecutorial ethics and potentially upend the case.—
Tony Plohetski,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Paul frequently accuses Mortenson of cheating and lying, which he’s openly admitted to — after he gets caught.—
Jodi Guglielmi,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
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Both are love stories involving cheating that nonetheless end well.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One of her alternate personalities — the cold and calculating Samantha — joins law enforcement to pursue her father’s killers, while other identities begin to surface with their own motives, seducing and manipulating powerful men as Sylvia’s search for justice veers into vengeance.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
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Adrian Maclean, 52, of Lisbon was arrested twice in connection with an embezzlement scheme police say involved manipulating records in the Hebron Tax Collector’s Office, according to Connecticut State Police.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Throughout the year, guests can partake in flower arranging workshops, cooking classes, tastings, and seminars at the Culinary Academy with Executive Chef Riccardo Bacciottini.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
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Madrazo also has great discernment in subtly arranging pictorial props, such as clothing, cards or flowers, that stage his winsome female figures to good effect.—
Benjamin Lima
Special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Analysts and diplomats said that Orbán was maneuvering for a domestic audience, with Politico reporting that Brussels was now planning to simply wait for the polls to see if the longtime Hungarian leader loses.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
20 Mar. 2026
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Designed to travel at speeds above Mach 5 (3,836 mph) while maneuvering mid-flight, the weapon promises to challenge existing defense systems.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But, ultimately, Sullivan decided to pursue a career in engineering late in high school.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
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EnzymeThreads is engineering high-performance enzymes designed to break down PET into its original monomers.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Swig Swig is plotting its newest location in Charlotte, though the timeline for the opening is unclear.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
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Already, lawmakers are plotting how to point the finger at Trump on the campaign trail.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Finagling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finagling. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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