finesse

1 to plan out usually with subtle skill or care had to finesse the schedule a bit to fit in another patient that afternoon Synonyms contrive, finagle, engineer, frame, machinate, maneuver, manipulate, mastermind, negotiate, wangleRelated Words arrange, concert, conclude, hammer out, work out; angle (for), compass, intrigue, plot, scheme; connive; brew, concoct, cook (up), hatch; captain, command, conduct, direct, handle, manage, quarterback, run; gerrymanderNear Antonyms blow, bobble, botch, bungle, butcher, flub, fumble, gum (up), louse up, mangle, mess (up), mishandle, muff

2 to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery tried to finesse the blame for the foreign policy fiasco, even though he was secretary of state at the time Synonyms avoid, dodge, duck, elude, eschew, evade, escape, get around, scape, shake, shirk, shuffle (out of), shun, weasel (out of)Related Words miss; avert, deflect, divert, obviate, parry, prevent, ward (off); ban, bar, debar, eliminate, except, exclude, preclude, rule out; bypass, circumvent, skirt; foil, fox, frustrate, outfox, outsmart, outwit, overreach, thwartNear Antonyms accept, court, embrace, pursue, seek, welcome; catch, contract, incur