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

In these robberies, the suspects used a red Honda Accord with heavy tint, a sunroof and chrome door handles, police said. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 The sedan features short overhangs and a streamlined side profile, which does get accentuated by the flat door handles. — New Atlas, 7 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 Ceramicist Lalese Stamps, who first earned a cult following by creating 100 mugs with 100 different handles, brings that same playful approach to this line’s organic shapes, inspired by puddles after rain. — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 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 Métier’s Passerby North-South tote bag has a full-zip closure, sturdy handles, and plenty of pockets. — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026 The high heat and harsh detergents can damage both handles and blades. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for handles

Verb

Reactor, which emerged from stealth in May, develops software to make world models run faster and cheaper, and sells a cloud service that manages the computing capacity.

— Wen Shao, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2026
Set the scene Located 10 minutes on foot from Roma Termini, the city’s bustling train station, The Fifteen Keys manages to feel like a quiet retreat in a city that sees millions of tourists each year.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of manages

Verb

For much of the story, Xu Fu looks out for himself and treats the war as someone else’s problem.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
In a secluded bubble away from the city, Stephen Miller’s wife treats Washington’s most powerful to custom cakes, live donkeys, and sake-squirting hibachi chefs.

— Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of treats

Verb

The plane was carrying out a medical evacuation in Bermuda, said Clarence Togeretz, the director of flight operations at Latitude Air Ambulance, which operates the plane.

— Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 4 Oct. 2026
The Massachusetts Port Authority, which operates the state's three major airports, confirmed that the aircraft did not arrive at Boston Logan International Airport as scheduled.

— James Cirrone , Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of operates

Verb

Debounce delay is the time between when a key on a mechanical keyboard is pressed and when the keyboard accepts the keypress as an input.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026
Put another way, roughly two employees are weighing an exit for every one who accepts a job at a company.

— Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of accepts

Noun

And anyone who was serving a prison sentence would be forced to come to grips with the full cost of their crimes.

— Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026
There will always be another skill to develop, customer behavior to understand or technology to get to grips with.

— Sabine Leveiller, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of grips

Noun

As their names suggest, one perfume bottle features an image of pizza and the other of pasta on its front.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Most names were redacted, but the records identified contacts associated with reporters from CNN, the Washington Post, Politico, and Just the News, according to the task force.

— Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of names

Browse Nearby Words

handlers

handles

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Style

“Handles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handles. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of handles

verb

noun

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