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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of finagling
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finagling
Verb
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Teams spend more time interpreting signals, protecting resources and negotiating around unresolved leadership tension.—
Britton Bloch,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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One option is debt settlement, which involves negotiating with creditors on a settlement amount that's less than the full amount owed.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
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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
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Here, Ruhian diversifies his skill set, killing people at a distance with a bow and arrow, which feels like cheating.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Like Muir, Lustmord’s Brian Williams creates harrowing, light-devouring music by digitally manipulating a vast library of sounds he’s collected via sampling and field recording.—
Brad Sanders,
Pitchfork,
8 June 2026
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The ever-expanding, replicating, and manipulating series of rooms take scraps and memories of those who pass through it, expanding into something that defies personality or ease.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Their concierge team also is available to assist with arranging private airport transfers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 June 2026
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Shavers suggests arranging an annual check.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Under the shadow of a supreme leader who dictates key decisions, and cunning politicians maneuvering for power, the Iranian presidency has over the past two years been reduced to little more than administering the edicts imposed from above.—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
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Turf Damage Is More Likely Wet conditions make maneuvering a mower more difficult.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Weston, a junior biosystems engineering major at Auburn, was last seen in the Kyoto area on CCTV on Friday, May 29, exiting a train in Yamashina.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
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Higginbotham is a native of Hoover, Alabama, and is majoring in biosystems engineering at Auburn, according to the university and Hoover Mayor Nick Derzis.—
Anthony Trotter,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Bolsonaro was arrested and ultimately convicted of plotting a coup to overturn the results of that election.—
Jim DeFede,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
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Scary Movie was just released and Marlon Wayans is already plotting a cameo for the next sequel.—
Derek Lawrence,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Finagling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finagling. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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