1
as in to manage
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently
as host of a live TV talk show, she must handle any situation that comes up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to treat
to behave toward in a stated way
handles all requests professionally, even when customers are rude
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
4
as in to supervise
to look after and make decisions about
she takes care of the flower beds, and he handles all the lawn care
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to tolerate
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
I can't handle much more of this foul weather
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to oversee
to be in charge of
I'll be handling the team's workouts while the leader is on vacation
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in name
a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known
likes to go by the handle "Champ"
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in nickname
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual
since it seemed decreed that every new firefighter have a handle, his was soon "Hulk"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of handle
Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
Aluminum Many types of metal surfaces can handle the coarseness of baking soda, but keep it away from aluminum.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
Aubrey Bailey, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
The October 2023 flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco diverted to Portland after Emerson pulled handles in the cockpit that could have cut fuel to the engines.
—Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handle
Verb
Trained to handle disasters Disaster response machines and robots must operate under extreme conditions.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
Aluminum Many types of metal surfaces can handle the coarseness of baking soda, but keep it away from aluminum.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
Squeeze the handles together and hold for one to two seconds.
—Aubrey Bailey, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
The October 2023 flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco diverted to Portland after Emerson pulled handles in the cockpit that could have cut fuel to the engines.
—Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handle
Verb
-
The watch proved successful after managing to catch a man littering hate flyers across the neighborhood.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Sep. 2025
-
He is known for his advocacy in advancing preventive healthcare models, with an emphasis on the role of lifestyle interventions in managing chronic diseases and enhancing overall well-being.—
Verywell Health,
Verywell Health,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Mizzou students and fans treated Saturday’s game as a landmark event, selling out the stadium and tailgating hours before the gates opened.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
-
For example, doors open for the Soil to Fork Experience, where visitors learn about farming the Quintosapore way and are then treated to an outdoor lunch with a view of the hills and Città della Pieve in the distance.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The changes affect libraries operated by Maricopa County and not cities that operate their own libraries, such as Phoenix.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
To qualify for a portion of the county arts funding, organizations must be active 501(c)3 entities, located and operating in Milwaukee County, organized for the primary purpose of producing or presenting the arts, and open to the general public, according to the county's application terms.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The military, led by an officer known only as the Major (Mark Hamill, the right amount of hammy), remains in control and supervises the Walk.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The complainant also said parents needed to supervise and teach their children how to use equipment safely.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
The Enquirer,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The reward for tolerating winter is spring.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Any violence committed or even threatened against Raglan James will not be tolerated on this website.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Kansas City Election Board, which oversees voting within Kansas City limits, will receive about $900,000 from the general fund in the Jackson County budget about three weeks before the election, Ealom and KCEB Republican Director Shawn Kieffer said.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
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Those cuts, included laying off more than half the workers at the Institute of Education Sciences, IES, the arm of the department charged with measuring student achievement and overseeing and processing the data that comes from the tests students take.—
Sequoia Carrillo,
NPR,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
With English Subtitles French maestro Claire Denis’ taut chamber piece simmers with dark secrets and emotional tensions in its portrait of a community suffocating from the relentless grip of colonialism.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
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Wednesday then rescues Pugsley as Gomez and Morticia arrive, but before the family can properly reunite, Isaac snatches Wednesday into his telekinetic grip, choking her.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Once the game begins, Bowlan waits for his name to be called.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
-
In recent years, high-profile figures like Elon Musk, Chrissy Teigen and Sharon Osborne have talked about using the substance for therapeutic purposes, contributing to its name recognition.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Handle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handle. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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