1
as in manages
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 treats
to behave toward in a stated way
handles all requests professionally, even when customers are rude
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
4
as in supervises
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 accepts
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 oversees
to be in charge of
I'll be handling the team's workouts while the leader is on vacation
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in grips
a part by which an implement is held
was given a set a steak knives with wooden handles
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in names
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 nicknames
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
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Recent Examples of handles
Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2026
While porcelain is very durable and handles baking soda well, Murphy notes that acrylic and fiberglass scratch easily.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 25 Apr. 2026
Food and drink On the ground floor, Muse Bistro + Bar handles all-day dining.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
The organization, which already handles production permitting in other areas of Los Angeles County, announced a new partnership Friday with Manhattan Beach to handle the city’s film-permitting process.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026
Espresso media handles international sales.
—Kevin Giraud, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Garren basically handles all of the many little details that make the annual walk a success.
—Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
That’s because the attorney general for the relevant state normally handles litigation against charities suspected of wrongdoing.
—Beth Gazley, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
The budget also adds 170 new positions at the agency that handles street repairs, according to her team.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Jolie Kerr, Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2026
The stickers are also used as backups in case the main, larger tags applied around handles fall off or are damaged.
—Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2026
Wipe down shelves, storage drawers, and the door handles.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 25 Apr. 2026
Plastic handles, nylon bristles and stainless steel wire make each option safe to clean and disinfect in the dishwasher.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Distinctive lighting elements, smooth body lines, and subtle design touches such as semi-hidden door handles and a rear spoiler contribute to its modern look.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026
Use a disinfecting cleaner on all the doorknobs in every room, as well as handles for toilets and the kitchen faucet.
—Elizabeth Brownfield, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Flush handles on the outside open the doors with only a touch.
—Stephen Edelstein, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
The bag had three handles on each side, plus two more at the top and bottom.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
The office also handles business registrations, oversees the state archives and runs a potpourri of other state programs, like commissioning notaries public and maintaining a registry for advance care directives.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2026
While porcelain is very durable and handles baking soda well, Murphy notes that acrylic and fiberglass scratch easily.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 25 Apr. 2026
Food and drink On the ground floor, Muse Bistro + Bar handles all-day dining.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
The organization, which already handles production permitting in other areas of Los Angeles County, announced a new partnership Friday with Manhattan Beach to handle the city’s film-permitting process.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026
Espresso media handles international sales.
—Kevin Giraud, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Garren basically handles all of the many little details that make the annual walk a success.
—Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
That’s because the attorney general for the relevant state normally handles litigation against charities suspected of wrongdoing.
—Beth Gazley, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
The budget also adds 170 new positions at the agency that handles street repairs, according to her team.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
Manual scrub brushes with extendable handles.
—Jolie Kerr, Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2026
The stickers are also used as backups in case the main, larger tags applied around handles fall off or are damaged.
—Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2026
Wipe down shelves, storage drawers, and the door handles.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 25 Apr. 2026
Plastic handles, nylon bristles and stainless steel wire make each option safe to clean and disinfect in the dishwasher.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Distinctive lighting elements, smooth body lines, and subtle design touches such as semi-hidden door handles and a rear spoiler contribute to its modern look.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026
Use a disinfecting cleaner on all the doorknobs in every room, as well as handles for toilets and the kitchen faucet.
—Elizabeth Brownfield, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Flush handles on the outside open the doors with only a touch.
—Stephen Edelstein, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
The bag had three handles on each side, plus two more at the top and bottom.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handles
Verb
-
Forget insight into its subject’s strange, warped personal life, or his artistry as an entertainer, or his family’s famously fraught dynamics — Michael barely manages the momentum needed to propel itself between the many musical numbers that are its main reason for existing.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The neighborhood The eastern Algarve is an area that manages to fall under the radar of most tourists.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Regeneron's gene therapy Otarmeni treats a rare disease where a faulty OTOF gene limits production of a protein that transmits sound signals in the ear.—
Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Reaching more people Although Otarmeni treats mutations that make up about 1% to 3% of cases of genetic hearing loss at birth, doctors expect that the approval of the first gene therapy will spur more work and investment into the field, broadening treatment options in the future.—
Meg Tirrell,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As Zhou explained, the micromotor operates autonomously rather than remaining fixed in place.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
-
That’s in addition to his private ambulance and paramedic service, which generates roughly $270,000 annually and operates out of his home in Newcastle-under-Lyme, England.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Chinese government officially recognizes five religions — Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Protestantism and Islam — and tightly supervises them.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The group recruits, trains and supervises volunteers who represent children in the foster care system in juvenile courts, according to its website.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Margo accepts the invitation and then goes into Susie’s room to work.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The doctor, a plastic surgeon, often operates at an outpatient surgical center, but only accepts insurance for gender-affirming procedures performed at a local hospital, Memorial Health.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ahead of Wednesday’s hearings, experts said his handling of them could affect his chances at a pivotal moment of his reelection campaign and set the tone for how Congress oversees the nation’s health agenda at a time of rampant distrust and misinformation.—
Ali Swenson,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
How Cassidy handles the hearings could affect his chances at a pivotal moment of his reelection campaign and set the tone for how Congress oversees the nation's health agenda at a time of rampant distrust and misinformation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There’s also a Frankenstein-ian level of depth and empathy to this story that really grips.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
-
What does bother me (besides the grips) is the chain noise over bumps.—
Joe Salas
April 07,
New Atlas,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The truth in this story seems to be elusive and unknowable, and this circles back to your earlier question about what kind of assumptions are made about people with names like Saïd or Tamerlan.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The sandwiches derive their names from the city’s streets.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handles. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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