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

The escalating standoff comes as the fragile truce reached last month has fractured, once again disrupting energy flows through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, which typically handles around 20% of the world's oil traffic. — Sam Meredith,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 17 July 2026

Any advantage to daytime drinking probably comes down to your behaviors around drinking and sleep timing rather than a biological loophole in how the liver handles alcohol. — Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 17 July 2026

The one-off requests, the reactive posts and the judgment calls that don't fit any category default to whoever handles them first. — Andrey Insarov, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Outbreaks of cyclosporiasis occur when a person with the cyclospora parasite and poor hand hygiene handles food. — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026

This single, innovative component handles daily sun-tracking while also powering the protective folding sequence. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 2026

Produced by Movistar+, Ikiru Flms and The Mediapro Studio’s El Terrat; Filmax handles world sales. — John Hopewell, Variety, 17 July 2026

In March, the Maine agency that handles child support matters filed a lien against him, public records show. — Julia Ainsley, NBC news, 17 July 2026

In Kansas City and Independence, each city’s health department enforces the food code while in Kansas, the state’s Department of Agriculture handles inspections. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026

Noun

More rigid top-handles leaned into doctor bag territory with curved proportions (see Miu Miu, Balenciaga, Proenza Schouler), while others, such as Jonathan Anderson’s playful Cigale, offered a new everyday silhouette, fitting for night and day. — Alice Cary, Vogue, 13 July 2026

Run a knife or offset spatula around edge of pan to loosen treats, lift from pan using parchment overhang as handles, and cut evenly into 24 bars. — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 13 July 2026

The truck is described as having four doors, black door handles, gray rocker panels, a black tonneau cover and visible rust around the driver's side rear wheel well/fender. — Riley Moser, CBS News, 12 July 2026

The handles also complement the microwave finish, and some even use a push button for the sleekest look. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 8 July 2026

Its bezel-less smart frame handles direct Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast streaming inputs, voice remote navigation commands, and instant private wireless headphone pairing. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 July 2026

Thanks to the wheels at the bottom and the side handles, this air conditioner can be easily moved from room to room. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2026

As a high-touch surface, refrigerator door handles can get dirty quickly. — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 4 July 2026

Authorities traced the handles and identified Fuller and Brown, the affidavit states. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026