HANDLES Synonyms: 223 Similar and Opposite Words

handles 1 of 2

verb

Definition of handles

present tense third-person singular of handle

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in treats

to behave toward in a stated way handles all requests professionally, even when customers are rude

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as in operates

to control the mechanical operation of learned how to handle basic woodworking power tools

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as in supervises

to look after and make decisions about she takes care of the flower beds, and he handles all the lawn care

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as in accepts

to put up with (something painful or difficult) I can't handle much more of this foul weather

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in oversees

to be in charge of I'll be handling the team's workouts while the leader is on vacation

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handles

2 of 2

noun

plural of handle

as in grips

a part by which an implement is held was given a set a steak knives with wooden handles

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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"

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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"

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of handles

Verb

Netflix will stream it in Latin America, Spain and Portugal in 2027 following a theatrical run, while Luxbox handles international sales. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 That high smoke point is a big part of why tallow handles hot pans and deep fryers without breaking down. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026 The project’s broader ambition lies in how the reactor handles atomic fuel. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026 Burbank currently handles between 70 and 85 flights per day, and that number is unlikely to change drastically, at least for now. — Annita Katee, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026 The base was scaled back after the end of the Cold War and now mostly handles the refueling of trans-Atlantic military flights. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 The consulate handles Britain’s relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, separate from its embassy in Tel Aviv. — Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026 Kreiz will manage day-to-day operations while Ellison maintains the creative, big-picture vision and handles relationships with talent. — Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026 Ecovacs Prime Day Deal The Ecovacs Deebot X12 Omnicyclone Robot Vacuum and Mop features a bagless OMNI station that handles hands-free maintenance, hot water mop washing, and automatic drying for up to 150 days. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026

Noun

Among the items back on Greek soil are black- and red-figure vessels, some with handles, decorated with scenes from Greek mythology, and would have been used in everyday life or as burial offerings. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 14 Oct. 2026 Resort staff confirmed that the knives, which had teal handles, did not belong to the lodge, according to the complaint. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Lindsay Olson, principal and founder of Lulu Designs in Costa Mesa, California, suggests finding a twin trundle with simple handles. — Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2026 There is grease and food debris on the floor around the equipment, grease on equipment handles and debris on the floor of the walk-in cooler. — Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026 Jaguar Land Rover Inside, there’s a distinctive slim horizontal display for primary driving and navigation data, while a smartphone-sized 7-inch vertical touchscreen handles climate functions on the console. — New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026 The house’s familiar domed shape was paired with top handles, gold-tone hardware and a detachable shoulder strap. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026 The days of swinging plastic handles may be coming to an end. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026 The tight-fitting lid helps retain heat and moisture, and the wide handles provide a secure grip. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 28 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for handles

Verb

Mousquetaires Group, which runs the Intermarche chain, has indicated that a Danish company, Danfoss, manages the affected refrigerators.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
Fox Entertainment Global holds domestic distribution rights to Baywatch and Fremantle manages all international sales.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of manages

Verb

The service Gracious and genial, the staff operates on a high level.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
Systemwide, American operates more than 6,000 daily flights to over 350 destinations across 60+ countries, serving more than 200 million customers annually.

— Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of operates

Verb

Frot-Coutaz also supervises Sky Studios Elstree, Sky’s state-of-the-art film and TV studio, plus Sky Studios’ global portfolio of production companies that includes Blast!

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Jim DeFrain, who supervises the investigation and the Metropolitan Explosive Disposal Unit, said initial testing indicated the presence of hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of supervises

Verb

While some debt settlement companies require clients to owe at least $10,000 to qualify, FDR accepts consumers with unsecured debts totaling $7,500.

— Carson Brunson, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Janet sacrifices her judgment of Martin and accepts his offering with an open heart.

— Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of accepts

Noun

While Christen and Jude remained among the hottest brands to check out at showroom appointments, other names pinpointed by buyers included Hagelstam, Nomasei, Neous and the newcomers Ananyan and Kiana Ghavidel.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
According to Bilal—who had nine cousins in Nusra, six of whom were already dead—these fighters were so keen to die in battle during Ramadan, the best time to be a martyr, that Nusra had to organize a lottery of names for suicide attacks.

— Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of names

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handlers

handles

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Style

“Handles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handles. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of handles

verb

noun

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