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

At night, Voltaire handles intimate, high-production shows (pop divas and burlesque), while TAO and other venues are for the party people. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026

The final-mile carrier then handles what is essentially a local shipment, rather than transporting the package across the country itself. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Aug. 2026

Global Constellation handles international sales, with the film also set to play Toronto before San Sebastián. — Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026

Amy Bos, who handles government affairs for the trade group, said California’s bill repeats what NetChoice sees as a bad pattern of taking decisions out of the hands of parents and potentially running afoul of the First Amendment. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2026

The tablet is built to enter the AI era with a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor that handles everything from everyday tasks to light gaming when you're done with them. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026

This is what gives the film its experiential sincerity — the lived perspective of its Ukrainian crew leaving a nonfictional trace across every level of the fiction, something Stever handles with unusual reverence. — Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026

The manner in which the company handles the Hugging Face controversy is likely to have a direct effect on its initial listing price. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026

Elevated Instead Of Eliminated As AI handles more routine interactions, human agents aren't becoming obsolete. — Amit Mathradas, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Noun

Western handles have a long and rounded frame, which is more suitable for those who have a Shakehand grip, a grip that resembles you shaking someone’s hand. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

Even the Johnston home’s brass door handles and the front porch mailbox are original. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Aug. 2026

Compared to the Season 2 debut, the social conversation was 220% higher after the third season debuted and the engagement on the show’s handles grew 580%. — Matt Minton, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026

But done properly, with the right advice, buying a project can save you time and money, and get you afloat while your friends who ordered new builds are still arguing with their designer about door handles. — Benjamin Maltby, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Spiezio was drinking one to two handles of vodka a day and spending thousands of dollars on cocaine per week. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Berry’s exact Chico’s straw bag with leather handles easily fits flight essentials and can transition to carry a towel, sunscreen, and water bottle to the beach. — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026

Using parchment as handles, lift and transfer cake to a cutting board. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026

In landfills, synthetic bristles on paintbrushes can take hundreds of years to degrade, while their plastic handles take up to a thousand years, Silverman said. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026