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
Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Which explains why the first Potlatch’s general manager wore dressy Scottish kilts (supposedly he was hired because of his finesse for playing backgammon and bridge).
—Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 9 July 2025
Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 12 June 2025
Known to work well beyond what most would consider normal workday hours, the Eames were said to have worked six or seven days a week finessing their techniques and refining their design process to meet current and emerging needs.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Noun
The Yarden label showcases their premium wines, known for their structure and finesse.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
Which explains why the first Potlatch’s general manager wore dressy Scottish kilts (supposedly he was hired because of his finesse for playing backgammon and bridge).
—Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 9 July 2025
Verb
This isn’t the first time a popular streamer has come up short in a high-profile encounter—Adin Ross was previously finessed on camera by Playboi Carti and 21 Savage, with both rappers toying with the streamer in moments that blurred the line between humor and humiliation.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 12 June 2025
Known to work well beyond what most would consider normal workday hours, the Eames were said to have worked six or seven days a week finessing their techniques and refining their design process to meet current and emerging needs.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finesse
Noun
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Many of our studies focus on memory for music, demonstrating that people have a remarkable ability to recall melodies, pitch, tempo, and loudness with surprising accuracy, even without formal music training, suggesting that musical memory operates differently from other forms of memory.—
Lindsay A. Fleming,
Time,
15 Aug. 2025
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Your ability to affect the world and be happy is not determined by an arbitrary system that is not set up for your benefit.—
Mary Frances Ruskell,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Another few weeks of Russian infantry assaults could achieve that goal, allowing Putin to negotiate with the U.S. and Ukraine from a position of greater advantage.—
Simon Shuster,
Time,
16 Aug. 2025
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Until a decade ago, every La Liga club negotiated its own TV agreement, leading to enormous revenue disparities.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Scammers distribute invitations to food truck owners through Gmail accounts, often using multiple email addresses to evade scam blocking filters.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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The other, finished in Sebring Orange, was able to evade authorities briefly but was eventually located three hours away in Martin County, Indiana.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Mulligan has shown his prowess at the Critical Role table before in spinoffs Exandria Unlimited: Calamity and Exandria Unlimited: Divergence, not only building upon the world that Mercer created, but adding to it with the DM’s blessing.—
Dana Reboe,
Rolling Stone,
7 Aug. 2025
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Tilbury, the namesake beauty founder and entrepreneur, saw an alignment in the female prowess at the heart of both her brand and the DCC, which is led by Charlotte Jones, co-owner and chief brand officer of the Dallas Cowboys.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate, they can't be manipulated for political purposes.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Aug. 2025
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Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate, they can’t be manipulated for political purposes.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
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That ambiguity reflects a desire to maintain strategic flexibility and avoid premature entanglement in a potential war.—
Frank Lavin,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
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The Hollywood star has remained mum on the ad backlash, avoiding any public statements to the press or her fans about the incident.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Perhaps most intriguing is the prelim card's opening bout between submission guru Chase Hooper and wrestling talent Alexander Hernandez at lightweight.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
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Hines would have fit the bill–even without elite talent–but this development changes things.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Thanks to its all-wheel suspension, front-locking wheels, and shock-absorbing tires that never go flat, the Mockingbird is easy to maneuver.—
Laura Lu,
Parents,
14 Aug. 2025
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Endurance then began maneuvering its way back to Earth, setting up its splashdown today.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Finesse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finesse. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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