as in ability
mental skill or quickness
maneuvered his opponent into checkmate with his customary finesse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to negotiate
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care
had to finesse the schedule a bit to fit in another patient that afternoon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to evade
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of finesse
Elie Dolgin, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Oct. 2025
Repetition builds finesse in delicate, millimeter-level procedures.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
Man Ray is one of the few Dada-Surrealist cusp figures who finessed affiliations with both movements without alienating either one.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Noun
Motors and hydraulics can deliver force but lack finesse and may pose safety risks inside the body, while soft actuators—driven by heat, air, or chemical reactions—tend to be bulky, inefficient, or too slow for practical use.
—Elie Dolgin, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Oct. 2025
Repetition builds finesse in delicate, millimeter-level procedures.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
But no amount of finessing the Beetle—the automotive equivalent of a Birkenstock sandal—would turn VW’s ugly duckling into a swan.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
Man Ray is one of the few Dada-Surrealist cusp figures who finessed affiliations with both movements without alienating either one.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finesse
Noun
-
His players marveled at this ability to focus.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
-
As both a player and in his post-playing career, Craig has displayed an ability to elevate those around him.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This has given the conflict a religious coloration, and political elites have also chosen to politicize the conflict to negotiate power and other interests, which has complicated the problem.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
One head of a negotiating delegation told CNN they were being charged more than $20,000 for two weeks in a three-bedroom apartment.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
As a result, the government is now forced to sell even more oil on the black market at a discount to evade US government sanctions, one of the economists in Caracas told CNN.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
-
George Washington pardoned some of those involved in the Whiskey Rebellion, while Jimmy Carter granted a blanket pardon to people who had evaded service in the Vietnam War.—
NPR,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
With a new wave of talent, including Santiago Giménez, Edson Álvarez, and César Montes leading the charge, El Tri are blending youthful energy with experienced leadership.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
My father had two superpowers that saved him in the face of all those failures—his talent for telling stories and gardening.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
These children are being targeted by extremists Khalid and Juneid—the latter being Yassir’s uncle—who plan to recruit and indoctrinate them into their militant movement, manipulating vulnerable youth with promises of faith and belonging under the orders of a mysterious leader known as Bhaijaan.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Bode’s comment was strictly in reference to the character of the Wizard of Oz, who uses propaganda to manipulate and deceive his subjects in Wicked.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Take extra caution when on the road or avoid driving if possible.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Flyers should try to mitigate any headaches from delays and cancellations by avoiding booking flights with layovers, the non-profit US Public Interest Research Group says, and opt to make reservations directly with the airline rather than a third-party website.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Efforts to compete with Amazon during its ascent in the 2010s had department stores playing catchup on supply chain prowess and integrating stores with e-commerce—sometimes to the detriment of in-store experience.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The closing scene of the trailer pokes fun at the Grammy-winning singer's dancing prowess.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The key features of this vacuum are its lightweight design, self-cleaning and tangle-resistant brush roll, plus its slender silhouette for maneuvering under furniture.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Everything else works exceptionally well, from the smooth telescoping handle to the easy-gliding wheels, which maneuvered silently across carpet, flooring, and concrete.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Finesse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finesse. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share