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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in treats
to behave toward in a stated way
handles all requests professionally, even when customers are rude
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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
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
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of handles
Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
Chase the Cut handles world sales.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway in the Middle East, handles roughly 20% of the world’s oil.
—Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
Much of the credit goes to the defense and to Andrew Golden, a junior who handles face-offs.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
The halt to shipping through Hormuz — a narrow waterway that normally handles a fifth of the world’s oil — and attacks on energy infrastructure have driven up prices of crude and natural gas.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
Prior to the weekend’s developments, several traders warned that oil prices could reach $100 within days — unless there was some de-escalation of hostilities or change to constraints in the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about a fifth of the world’s energy exports.
—Christine Burke, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026
The upheaval, now in its ninth day, shows no sign of imminent resolution, meaning a strip of water that normally handles a fifth of the world’s oil is impassable.
—Yongchang Chin, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026
Jamming and spoofing also slowed marine traffic moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a congested shipping lane that handles roughly 20% of the world’s oil and gas exports and where precise navigation is essential, Windward’s data showed.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
Modern versions range from compact mini top-handles to boxier everyday options, often featuring optional shoulder straps for versatility.
—Jasmine Fox-Suliaman, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
After two years of construction, the county’s second Be Well campus, complete with upbeat splashes of art and gleaming kitchen equipment and self-harm-resistant door handles, is ready to start helping people with severe mental illness or substance abuse disorders or both.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Clean high-touch spots, like TV remotes, door handles, and light switches, with a damp wipe.
—Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 13 Mar. 2026
Protect Hardware When Painting Painting can result in a real mess when stray streaks and drips land on handles, knobs, and pulls.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
The protruding exterior door handles are easy to grab with heavy gloves on and look good.
—Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026
Wipe down high-touch personal items such as passports, phones and luggage handles before and after trips, experts advise.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Final Cut For Real handles international sales.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
The firm handles correspondence, negotiations, and legal communications directly with timeshare companies, allowing clients to step back from the daily grind of the dispute while staying informed about key developments.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
Chase the Cut handles world sales.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway in the Middle East, handles roughly 20% of the world’s oil.
—Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
Much of the credit goes to the defense and to Andrew Golden, a junior who handles face-offs.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
The halt to shipping through Hormuz — a narrow waterway that normally handles a fifth of the world’s oil — and attacks on energy infrastructure have driven up prices of crude and natural gas.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
Prior to the weekend’s developments, several traders warned that oil prices could reach $100 within days — unless there was some de-escalation of hostilities or change to constraints in the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about a fifth of the world’s energy exports.
—Christine Burke, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026
The upheaval, now in its ninth day, shows no sign of imminent resolution, meaning a strip of water that normally handles a fifth of the world’s oil is impassable.
—Yongchang Chin, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026
Jamming and spoofing also slowed marine traffic moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a congested shipping lane that handles roughly 20% of the world’s oil and gas exports and where precise navigation is essential, Windward’s data showed.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
Paint rollers serve as toilet paper handles, reclaimed wood accents line the walls, and refurbished oil drums pose as outdoor seating.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
Modern versions range from compact mini top-handles to boxier everyday options, often featuring optional shoulder straps for versatility.
—Jasmine Fox-Suliaman, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
After two years of construction, the county’s second Be Well campus, complete with upbeat splashes of art and gleaming kitchen equipment and self-harm-resistant door handles, is ready to start helping people with severe mental illness or substance abuse disorders or both.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Clean high-touch spots, like TV remotes, door handles, and light switches, with a damp wipe.
—Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 13 Mar. 2026
Protect Hardware When Painting Painting can result in a real mess when stray streaks and drips land on handles, knobs, and pulls.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
The protruding exterior door handles are easy to grab with heavy gloves on and look good.
—Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026
Wipe down high-touch personal items such as passports, phones and luggage handles before and after trips, experts advise.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Final Cut For Real handles international sales.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handles
Verb
-
The agency also offers Sabbath food boxes at no cost, refers individuals for health care and social services and manages a closet full of modest clothing for observant women.—
Lois K. Solomon,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The property feels deeply rooted in Highlands, North Carolina, yet manages to create its own intimate world behind stone walls and warmly lit hallways.—
Katie Strasberg Rousso,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For years now, that’s pretty much what has been happening in the section of hip-hop’s underground that treats Whole Lotta Red like a sacred text—just replace the Western desert with Discord chats.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Instead, the one campus that’s operating, the Be Well center in Orange that opened in 2021, treats only patients insured by Medi-Cal, known in Orange County as CalOptima.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Williams, who works as a barber instructor and operates a cosmetology school, wants to push for policies strengthening small businesses.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Stocks to watch Citi's Tower is bullish on McDonald's, Chipotle, Cheesecake Factory, Darden Restaurants — which owns Olive Garden — and Brinker International , the conglomerate that operates Chili's.—
Itzel Franco,
CNBC,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Executive Office for Immigration Review, which supervises the court, didn’t return a request for comment by press time.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Jack Lang had been summoned to report on Sunday to the Foreign Ministry, which supervises the Arab World Institute, a cultural and research institution that promotes understanding of the Arab world.—
Reuters 13 hr ago,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
YoloCares accepts hospice and palliative care admissions around the clock and has received high quality-of-care ratings, Bourgoub said.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Bubo accepts microSD cards with a maximum storage of up to one TB for approximately 200,000 photos of 5MB each and about 260 hours of videos at 720p/60fps or 120 hours at 1080p/60fps.—
Shirl Leigh
March 10,
New Atlas,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Charles Allen, the respected former chief executive of broadcaster ITV, resigned last week as chairman of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the sport’s governing body, which licences participants, oversees disciplinary procedures and enforces the rules.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Estorino currently oversees international park operations at Disney theme park resorts in China, Japan and France.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The hedging shears with ergonomic grips.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Rockies pitchers, especially the starters, are experimenting with new grips and new pitches this spring.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Political bullies also enjoy demeaning names and character assassination.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
-
To be sure, some names have bucked the trend.—
Itzel Franco,
CNBC,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handles. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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