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

Loco Films handles sales, while Caramel Films distributes in Spain. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026

Having to balance coverage of this unimaginable tragedy with more typical Housewives scenes is a remarkably tricky balancing act, but one that the show handles well. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026

The National Transportation Safety Board generally handles civilian aviation accidents, but the military investigates crashes involving its own aircraft. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026

Parents and state lawmakers gather at noon Thursday at City Hall to push for legislation aimed at fixing how the city handles its school bus contracts. — Elijah Westbrook, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Not every water problem calls for the same fix, and a shower head filter handles some issues far better than others. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2026

For criminal charges to be filed, the case must be referred by police to the district attorney’s office, which prosecutes felonies, or the city attorney, which handles most misdemeanors. — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 16 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

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

Noun

But not all paring knives are designed the same, some have longer handles, some have narrow blades, some really can’t be sharpened. — Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026

Lawson will need Gray’s experience, handles and leadership in Los Angeles. — Chantel Jennings, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

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

To groom the sides of the shrubs, Sherpa holds the shears midway down the handles. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 9 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