Synonyms of handles

handles 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of handle

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

• manages
• addresses
• manipulates
• treats
• negotiates
• takes
• plays
• maneuvers
• swings
• contends (with)
• fields
• pulls
• controls
• grapples (with)
• comes to grips with
• hacks
• has a grip on
• regulates
• copes (with)
• engineers
• steers
• directs
• guides
• carries out
• finesses
• gets off
• responds (to)
• reacts (to)
• carries off
• commands
• runs
• jockeys
• brings off
• micromanages

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fumbles
• mishandles
• bungles
• botches
• muffs
• messes (up)
• goofs (up)
• louses up
• scamps
• foozles

2

as in treats

to behave toward in a stated way

handles all requests professionally, even when customers are rude

Synonyms & Similar Words

• treats
• serves
• uses
• is (to)
• acts (toward)
• deals (with)
• regards
• does by
• considers
• responds (to)
• reacts (to)
• views
• engages (with)
• rates
• reckons
• esteems

3

as in operates

to control the mechanical operation of

learned how to handle basic woodworking power tools

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operates
• uses
• works
• runs
• manipulates
• drives
• wields
• controls
• maneuvers
• directs
• guides
• steers
• plies
• commands
• pilots

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

• manages
• operates
• supervises
• oversees
• regulates
• controls
• conducts
• runs
• governs
• directs
• administers
• tends
• keeps
• guides
• protects
• administrates
• watches over
• overlooks
• superintends
• carries on
• leads
• steers
• presides (over)
• watches
• stewards
• guards
• safeguards
• cares (for)
• minds
• pilots
• micromanages
• stage-manages
• codirects
• comanages

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

• accepts
• stands
• tolerates
• endures
• takes
• sustains
• absorbs
• bears
• supports
• wears
• swallows
• meets
• sticks out
• stands for
• pockets
• lives with
• abides
• stomachs
• hacks
• lumps (it)
• goes
• brooks
• countenances
• sweats out
• bides
• suffers
• allows
• permits
• toughs it out
• reconciles (to)
• yields (to)
• submits (to)
• consents (to)
• agrees (with or to)
• respects
• assents (to)
• acquiesces
• capitulates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refuses
• rejects
• dismisses
• declines
• resists
• opposes
• turns down
• avoids
• repudiates
• spurns
• fights
• combats
• escapes
• misses
• contests
• bypasses
• evades
• circumvents
• eludes
• dodges
• refrains (from)
• abstains (from)
• forbears

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

• supervises
• oversees
• manages
• steers
• commands
• directs
• controls
• heads
• runs
• bosses
• overlooks
• guides
• watches over
• orders
• superintends
• administers
• monitors
• shows
• captains
• calls the tune (for)
• calls the shots (of)
• rides herd on
• quarterbacks
• governs
• rules
• reigns
• presides (over)
• shepherds

handles

2 of 2

noun

plural of handle

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

• grips
• hilts
• bows
• loops
• handgrips
• hafts
• helves
• shafts
• handlebars
• bars
• bails
• crops
• broomsticks
• whipstocks

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

• names
• monikers
• titles
• nomenclatures
• nicknames
• designations
• banners
• epithets
• denominations
• surnames
• pseudonyms
• cognomens
• denotations
• compellations
• appellations
• given names
• appellatives
• first names
• family names
• Christian names
• labels
• aliases
• maiden names
• tags
• baptismal names
• pen names
• middle names
• trivial names
• forenames
• brand names
• trade names
• patronymics
• matronymics
• sobriquets
• diminutives
• noms de plume
• bynames
• cryptonyms
• monomials
• trademarks
• noms de guerre
• binomials
• rubrics
• hypocorisms
• vernaculars
• misnomers

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

• nicknames
• epithets
• surnames
• monikers
• aliases
• pseudonyms
• labels
• tags
• bynames
• cognomens
• titles
• sobriquets
• denominations
• designations
• pen names
• denotations
• appellations
• noms de plume
• anonyms
• noms de guerre

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of handles

Verb

In healthcare, for example, an admissions department that once required 10 people may need two as AI handles referral summaries, reimbursement assessments and coordination workflows. — Dave Wessinger, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

O’Brien’s report was not entirely negative, and the auditor’s office found that how Denver handles project management is generally effective, though there’s room for improvement. — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 21 Aug. 2026

The carrier can recover an aircraft about every minute and usually handles around 70 aircraft during several flight operations each day. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026

Goodfellas handles international sales, while Cinéart will release the film in Benelux. — Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026

At night, Voltaire handles intimate, high-production shows (pop divas and burlesque), while TAO and other venues are for the party people. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026

The final-mile carrier then handles what is essentially a local shipment, rather than transporting the package across the country itself. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Aug. 2026

Amy Bos, who handles government affairs for the trade group, said California’s bill repeats what NetChoice sees as a bad pattern of taking decisions out of the hands of parents and potentially running afoul of the First Amendment. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2026

The manner in which the company handles the Hugging Face controversy is likely to have a direct effect on its initial listing price. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026

Noun

This sophisticated serving tray gets a whimsical twist with the addition of squiggly handles. — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026

Use a disinfecting spray and a rag to wipe down all hard surfaces, including the handles, zippers, the bottom, and lastly, the wheels. — Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2026

Modern electric door handles can fail in a crash if the electrical system is disabled, and mechanical backups are often hidden or complex, hindering escape for occupants or rescuers. — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Have your child dip a finger into the paint, then make dots on the handles. — Jodi Levine, Parents, 21 Aug. 2026

Nine of the 11 automakers, including Tesla and Xiaomi, will install warning labels free of charge to identify the handles, while most will also deploy over-the-air (OTA) software updates. — Reuters, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

The records request also demands data concerning three Discord handles, including one for CyberLeek, along with three Discord chat servers. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026

Morris is a combo guard in the mold of BJ Davis, only maybe quicker, with a deadly shot and handles to get in the paint and distribute. — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Parents can back that up at home by wiping down high-touch surfaces such as light switches, desks and door handles. — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 18 Aug. 2026