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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of finesse
Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 9 Dec. 2025
The maps themselves are a little more challenging than the previous Sonic kart games, relying on a lot of sharp turns and a little more finesse than those familiar with Team Sonic Racing may be expecting.
—Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2025
The race to dominate the humanoid robotics market is as much about harvesting 3D data as finessing the nuts and bolts.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Noun
Among coffee snobs—call them MAMICs La Marzocco is deservedly famous for its technical finesse, producing superb shots time and again.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 9 Dec. 2025
The maps themselves are a little more challenging than the previous Sonic kart games, relying on a lot of sharp turns and a little more finesse than those familiar with Team Sonic Racing may be expecting.
—Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
Verb
Assuming that forces an honor, finesse the six on the second.
—Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2025
The race to dominate the humanoid robotics market is as much about harvesting 3D data as finessing the nuts and bolts.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finesse
Noun
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He was asked to be the signal-caller, and that responsibility seemed to hinder his ability to read and react.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The designer, who holds certifications in accessible design, says the triangle’s goal of removing obstructions resonates with today’s emphasis on safe accessibility for kitchen users of all ages and abilities.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Still, the legislative session frequently goes past the target end date as lawmakers negotiate over the final details of bills and the state budget.—
Stephen Gruber-Miller,
Des Moines Register,
9 Jan. 2026
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Players with more than three years of service time can use arbitration to negotiate their salaries for an upcoming season, and Skubal has more than five years in.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Davis faces three counts of first-degree assault and a single count each of second-degree manslaughter, evading responsibility involving a death, reckless driving and failure to drive in the proper lane.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
7 Jan. 2026
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Ashton Hill, 17, was charged with discharge of a firearm in certain municipalities, evading arrest, riot participation, possession of marijuana under two ounces in a drug-free zone and possession of CS PG2 under one gram.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The movie is like a version of Waiting for Guffman (1996) in which the Christopher Guest character was not a buffoon but an earnest striver with grit and (significant) talent.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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That’s because North Crowley’s talent development, depth, culture and recent success have put the school in a position to compete for championships.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
An onboard synthesizer manipulates a small set of core sounds to mimic everything from the roar of a jet plane to the flushing of a toilet through a little speaker in the Brick.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Jan. 2026
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In some cases, CBS News ran images through AI detection tools, which can be inconsistent or inaccurate but can still help flag possibly manipulated content.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To avoid this dilemma, my aunt always travels with a portable power bank like this slim option from Anker.—
Stephanie Gray,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Learn how to properly thaw frozen pipes, and how to avoid them in the first place.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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To demonstrate sartorial prowess, pair an oversized sweater vest with a striped button-down and mid-calf boots.—
Lindy Segal,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
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Green, not known for his scoring prowess, even hit a couple of 3-pointers and made a free throw on three consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When choosing a clay for children, look for one that is known to be relatively soft and easy to maneuver without too much pressure or kneading.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Simple Ways to Check Plus, other helpful strategies for maneuvering around crowded planes and sold-out cabins.—
Hana Al-Khodairi,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Finesse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finesse. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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