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

Either use a fragile design that loads atoms well but breaks under high heat conditions or a sturdy design that handles heat well but not the atoms. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2026

Global Constellation handles international sales, with the film set to be submitted for festival consideration in 2027. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2026

Control of this corridor, which handles about $1 trillion in goods annually, could let the Houthis choke Saudi oil exports, drive prices well above $100 a barrel and roil global markets. — Ahmed Al-Haj, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

His responsibility is to be the CEO of Ohio State football, the man who runs the team and handles fundraising and booster conversations and everything else that comes with the transfer portal and NIL era. — Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Planning handles land use, Environmental Health handles health and sanitation, and the Sheriff’s Office handles criminal violations. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Charades handles international sales and co-reps North America and global rights with CAA Media Finance. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026

Loading silverware handles down and usable ends up ensures maximum cleanliness but may lead to accidents. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026

Investing features can be built into an app or other service, while a brokerage firm handles the transactions. — David Schepp, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026

Noun

From curved pulls to squiggly handles, and even a style finished off with a metal tassel, these operate as graceful accessories to enhance old and new furnishings. — Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2026

Players reported being penetrated with the handles of disposable razors and having their pubic hair burned with blowtorches. — Austin Meek, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

The device Gulliver encounters is massive, requiring 40 individuals to rotate iron handles attached to multiple words, which are then assembled into sentence fragments and called out to a scribe. — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026

Plus, the dishwasher-safe utensils have ergonomic wooden handles and silicone tips that can withstand up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2026

Mattia Sala, the product manager for SMEG USA, agrees that silverware handles should always point downward, but adds that silverware should be properly spaced out within a dishwasher’s silverware caddy. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026

It’s designed with side handles for easy handling from stovetop (or oven) to table, has a moisture-locking lid to keep food tender, and is suitable on any cooktop surface and in the oven up to 500°F. — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2026

The slim four-sided handles are nicely weighted and give this line its modern look. — Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026

Clean the Hardware Before cleaning the handles, knobs, or drawer pulls, consider the hardware material. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 1 Sep. 2026