as in ability
mental skill or quickness
maneuvered his opponent into checkmate with his customary finesse
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of finesse
Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
Cooking eggplant perfectly takes some finesse—who among us hasn’t watched helplessly as too-thick slices soak up oceans of olive oil and emerge soggy and undercooked?
—Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2025
Michael Silver, New York Times, 21 May 2025
However, Teyana Taylor finessed Chick-Fil-A into the 2023 Met Gala and returned this year as host and co-chair.
—Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Noun
Canada's possible lineup is loaded with firepower and finesse.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
Cooking eggplant perfectly takes some finesse—who among us hasn’t watched helplessly as too-thick slices soak up oceans of olive oil and emerge soggy and undercooked?
—Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2025
Verb
This time, Philly finessed the existing rules and came up with a nearly unstoppable play.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 21 May 2025
However, Teyana Taylor finessed Chick-Fil-A into the 2023 Met Gala and returned this year as host and co-chair.
—Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finesse
Noun
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Their ability to unify data, automate execution and adapt messaging at scale enables marketing teams to move faster, work smarter and engage customers more meaningfully than ever before.—
Aleks Farseev,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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On a per-snap basis, Banks was one of the most disruptive interior defensive linemen in college football last season due to his ability to generate force to the football.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Trump ratcheted up tariffs on Canada as the two sides negotiate a trade deal.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
11 July 2025
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In a world where AI agents will negotiate contracts, manage assets, and execute decisions, this kind of integration isn’t a novelty.—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Cromartie also took a plea deal for charges including strangulation, third degree assault of a police officer, first degree wanton endangerment, disarming a peace officer, fleeing or evading police, resisting arrest and violation of a foreign protective order, according to court records.—
Killian Baarlaer,
The Courier-Journal,
18 July 2025
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Of late, Netanyahu has attempted to fudge the issue by pushing through legislation that would create a technical process for drafting the ultra-Orthodox but in practice make the new requirements easy to evade.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
17 July 2025
Noun
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However, with no proven track record of making powerful and reliable engines, Red Bull has a heavy weight on its shoulders, and Verstappen's confidence in the team's technical prowess is yet to be known.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
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In the ensuing 18 years, Dark Matter Coffee has shown its prowess.—
Gary Stern,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Even a congressional candidate has alleged that humans manipulated the weather behind the Fourth of July weekend floods in Texas, which left at least 120 people dead and more than 170 still missing.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Austin American Statesman,
12 July 2025
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Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to run malicious code or access other parts of your system by manipulating memory.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
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For efficient and safe removal, residents should avoid stacking debris near trees, utility poles, mailboxes, fire hydrants, or meters.—
Robbie Farias,
Austin American Statesman,
12 July 2025
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Together, the groups have created a high-tech stage in the upper stands, to avoid potentially damaging the pitch at halftime of such an important game, featuring 40,000 pounds of gear, scenery and structural trusses.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
Noun
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When companies struggle to find reliable, emotionally mature talent, the answer isn’t just hiring differently.—
Elan Gepner-Dales,
Rolling Stone,
23 July 2025
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Second, the young talent the team drafted from the last rebuild needs to be signed to multi-year contracts.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
23 July 2025
Verb
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And these two will maneuver, manipulate, and murder anyone who gets in their way.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
22 July 2025
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July is on course to set new records for the intensity of cross-border attacks. LONDON -- Russia and Ukraine again exchanged a series of major overnight drone strikes as the two sides maneuvered ahead of a possible resumption of ceasefire talks later this week.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Finesse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finesse. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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