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
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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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of finessed
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
The state finessed that by assuming his car was repaired after the robbery.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
Language was finessed in other ways, too.
—Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
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
The state finessed that by assuming his car was repaired after the robbery.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2025
Language was finessed in other ways, too.
—Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finessed
Verb
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The deal was negotiated by Emily Hayward Whitlock at The Artists Partnership.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
2 Oct. 2025
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After years of organizing, production workers on commercials have negotiated their first union contract.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As a result, Ecuador has avoided the extraordinary inflation that has afflicted so many nations in South America, including Argentina.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
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Snell deftly avoided the middle of the strike zone and had the Phillies off balance all night.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This is done, the company claims, by using ultra-smooth surfaces made from advanced composite materials engineered for both strength and durability, with minimal surface distortion.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
2 Oct. 2025
-
PacBio uses special versions of the four bases that have been engineered to fluoresce in a characteristic color when exposed to ultraviolet light.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Lloyd evaded a diving Mahomes, Kareem Hunt and a streaking Tyquan Thornton for a huff-and-puff 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
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The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who evaded removal efforts and the Trail of Tears in the 19th century, still keep the tribe’s vibrant cultural traditions and language alive in Cherokee today.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The codes of Versace are very strong and Vitale manipulated the familiar in a playful way.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
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But those sensors can be manipulated.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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So the manager went back to Whitlock for a second inning of work in the eighth and Whitlock nearly escaped before running out of steam.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Staff said the python likely escaped its home and asked for help finding the snake’s owner.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Two mental health professionals are arranged to testify on the impact of all of these factors, Reynolds said.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
3 Oct. 2025
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The continual delays have led to many embarrassing moments, the most recent coming last Tuesday, when, after Barca officials told the media the Camp Nou was ready, the Barcelona city council arranged a press conference of their own in reply.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But while the first four episodes were well-plotted and sure-footed — building up to episode five’s ambitious Alien remix — the final three have been relatively attenuated.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
24 Sep. 2025
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But as Newsom and his allies plotted how to respond to the Lone Star State, two Bay Area counties had already planned to hold off-cycle elections in November.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Finessed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finessed. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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