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
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
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
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
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
-
The Host City agreement signed by outgoing Mayor Eric Garcetti deferred such unpleasant details to be negotiated later.—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Chan Phung, Head of Acquisitions, and Ben Wilkinson, VP Business Affairs, negotiated the deal on behalf of Searchlight with Temple Hill Entertainment and UTA Independent Film Group.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The deficit Gloria had to close increased from $118 million to $146 million this spring because of some new spending that couldn’t be avoided, aides to the mayor said.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
While the broad outlines are fairly clear, dogma should be avoided when dealing with the various types of gladiators.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering what’s changing in how fashion is made, scaled or engineered from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Food was not something engineered.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Redick said watching McIlroy this time around, compared to his first Masters victory last year after the championship had evaded him time and again, was a different experience.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The suspect had evaded law enforcement for more than an hour, at times stopping, after deputies from the Jurupa Valley station tried to make a traffic stop, according to the Sheriff’s Department .—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The case would also require testimony, which meant that at least one of Bateman’s wives needed to realize she was being manipulated and abused.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2026
-
During this time, Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Animal rights activists questioned whether the wolf could survive outside the zoo and also worried it might be killed during capture, something that happened to a puma that escaped from the same zoo in 2018.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Another novel aspect is that Yarris escaped from custody in 1985, only to be quickly recaptured in Florida and sent back to death row in Pennsylvania.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Shuttle services have been arranged to transport journalists between the media center and a hotel in the city’s main shopping mall.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Shipping can always be arranged—at a price.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s spy chief, who is accused of having plotted a coup attempt to keep his boss in power.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Russian secret services plotted to interfere and tip the election in Orbán's favor, according to numerous media reports, including The Washington Post.—
Compiled byDemocrat-Gazette stafffrom wire reports,
Arkansas Online,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Finessed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finessed. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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