1
as in negotiated
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in avoided
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
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Recent Examples of finessed
The two scenes that were finessed the most, where McKenna’s interpretation of Nicky was most crucial, were his first meeting with Ralph (Winston Sawyers) and his Episode 1 confrontation with Jack (Lox Pratt).
—
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 31 May 2026
The immaculate lineup of laminated pastries, like a pandan cream croissant, is similarly finessed.
—Allecia Vermillion, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026
Repossi finessed the rose gold used in its latest spiraling Blast high jewelry pieces, playing up its yellow gleam under a gradient of orange gemstones.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 20 Feb. 2026
The director also finessed Hollywood.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Dec. 2025
Back in Miami, Winter finessed his preparation with former Duncan Ensemble dancer Ivette Sotomayor.
—Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
Cruz finessed his way into not allowing a Red Sox runner to cross the plate, keeping the score tied.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 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
In the other, a talented pitcher in a true breakout year overpowered some hitters and, against others, finessed his way out of pressure spots with men on base.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 31 May 2026
The immaculate lineup of laminated pastries, like a pandan cream croissant, is similarly finessed.
—Allecia Vermillion, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026
Repossi finessed the rose gold used in its latest spiraling Blast high jewelry pieces, playing up its yellow gleam under a gradient of orange gemstones.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 20 Feb. 2026
The director also finessed Hollywood.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Dec. 2025
Back in Miami, Winter finessed his preparation with former Duncan Ensemble dancer Ivette Sotomayor.
—Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
Cruz finessed his way into not allowing a Red Sox runner to cross the plate, keeping the score tied.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 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
In the other, a talented pitcher in a true breakout year overpowered some hitters and, against others, finessed his way out of pressure spots with men on base.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finessed
Verb
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Following the end of the lease, the city of Escondido would regain ownership of the space or a new lease could be negotiated.—
Frankie Rowley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 June 2026
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The building project was negotiated by Rick Snyder, the former Republican governor of Michigan, and paid for by Canada to help ease congestion at the existing Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor tunnel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama avoided adding a third flagrant point to his postseason total.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
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While the city avoided laying off a number of its already lean staff — which neighbors like San Francisco have had to reckon with — the city’s financial troubles are far from over.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The Oofos Ooahh Slides are engineered with impact-absorbing foam that cradles your feet and helps reduce stress on joints, especially after long flights or full days on your feet.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
7 July 2025
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Not every movie needs to be a nail-biter, and not every plot needs to be engineered like a Maserati.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
7 July 2025
Verb
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Among his most famous pursuits was his years-long hunt for Bob Dozier, a murderer and cattle thief who repeatedly evaded capture.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
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The aesthetic has seemingly evaded the controversy that’s erupted from Levinson’s eight-episode parable, which officially finished on Sunday.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
1 June 2026
Verb
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He’s been manipulated to believe that this is what’s necessary by his sister.—
Ronda Racha Penrice,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
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The people drawing the lines manipulated the system for partisan advantage.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Junior Grace Simmons escaped an early jam to set the tone for a low-scoring complete game from the circle, and Aniyah Bailey had a birthday to remember by anchoring the team’s contagious offensive showing with two doubles and five RBI in a 3-for-4 day.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
11 June 2026
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Better still, leave workers’ rates alone and expand the base to all forms of compensation and to investment income — the income that has escaped the program for nine decades.—
Teresa Ghilarducci,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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On Thursday, deputies arranged to meet the man outside his apartment building in the 100 block of North Rollins Road and safely took him into custody, authorities said.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
24 Aug. 2025
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Prosecutors allege that Donna and her son, Charlie, arranged the murder so Wendi could gain full custody of their children and start a new life in South Florida.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Jeffrey Epstein’s final months Texts, emails and other documents reveal how Epstein plotted to escape justice as law enforcement closed in.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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In performance and direction, and in the small ways in which Caswell and Wills have plotted out this isolated love story, there’s a level of great richness and detail.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Finessed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finessed. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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