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

Warner says Neo handles three critical tasks which include inventorying every piece of agentic software installed; assessing how each is configured; and, enforcing policies on what each is permitted to do. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 24 July 2026

The Kremlin has denied that Wildberries handles military supplies. — Reuters, NBC news, 24 July 2026

Banijay Rights handles international distribution for the series. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 23 July 2026

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait off Yemen handles some 10% of maritime trade. — David Brennan, ABC News, 23 July 2026

Before starting your next DIY project, learn how a paint professional checks for lead paint and handles it safely. — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 July 2026

The agentic infrastructure handles technical data synthesis and manual execution, while the team's responsibility elevates entirely to high-level verification, exception handling and strategic sign-off. — Gargi Ray, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

But despite the team’s poor play, many took note of the care with which Davis handles his family’s franchise. — Sam Warren, New York Times, 22 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

Noun

The collection features a Large Rolling Tote in forest green with midnight blue handles and a Medium Rolling Tote in midnight blue with forest green handles -- both rich colors for the fall season. — Casey Delbasso, ABC News, 23 July 2026

This Dansk Kobenstyle enameled casserole dish with its geometric handles and subtle curves manages to be both stylish and understated in that ineffable Scandinavian way. — Clara Hillis, Architectural Digest, 22 July 2026

An aluminum ramyeon pot with rounded handles simmered on the stove. — Min Jin Lee, New Yorker, 19 July 2026

Tortoiseshell print has made its mark on sunglasses, hair accessories, shoes, and purse handles—just to name a few. — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 19 July 2026

Installing crown molding, upgrading your cabinet handles, hanging a new shower curtain, and investing in a new set of towels all go a long way. — Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 19 July 2026

Chances are, 90% of inquiries your community management squad handles can be boiled down to a two-pager FAQ. — Andrey Insarov, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

That member sent Miller the Venmo handles of the top finishers and coordinated sending their addresses to receive the Yeti merchandise. — Alex Andrejev, New York Times, 17 July 2026

That sounds like the harrowing type of emergency call that people might imagine a suicide hotline handles. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 17 July 2026