Synonyms of handling

handling 1 of 2

noun

ˈhan(d)-liŋ 

as in management

the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something

the handling of proper order in the courtroom is the job of the sergeant at arms

Synonyms & Similar Words

• management
• operation
• control
• administration
• supervision
• stewardship
• oversight
• direction
• government
• governance
• running
• regulation
• presidency
• guidance
• conduct
• charge
• leadership
• care
• superintendence
• custody
• superintendency
• intendance
• logistics
• protection
• manipulation
• agency
• engineering
• keeping
• safekeeping
• generalship
• guardianship
• lap
• trust
• tutelage
• ward
• rulership
• aegis
• codirection
• machination
• coadministration
• comanagement
• egis

handling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of handle

1

as in managing

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

• managing
• addressing
• manipulating
• treating
• negotiating
• taking
• maneuvering
• playing
• fielding
• coping (with)
• hacking
• grappling (with)
• swinging
• contending (with)
• controlling
• coming to grips with
• pulling
• regulating
• having a grip on
• engineering
• carrying out
• steering
• jockeying
• guiding
• directing
• carrying off
• getting off
• finessing
• responding (to)
• commanding
• reacting (to)
• bringing off
• running
• micromanaging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mishandling
• fumbling
• bungling
• botching
• messing (up)
• goofing (up)
• muffing
• lousing up
• scamping
• foozling

2

as in treating

to behave toward in a stated way

handles all requests professionally, even when customers are rude

Synonyms & Similar Words

• treating
• serving
• using
• being (to)
• acting (toward)
• dealing (with)
• regarding
• doing by
• viewing
• considering
• responding (to)
• reacting (to)
• rating
• engaging (with)
• esteeming
• reckoning

3

as in operating

to control the mechanical operation of

learned how to handle basic woodworking power tools

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operating
• using
• working
• manipulating
• running
• driving
• controlling
• maneuvering
• wielding
• steering
• guiding
• directing
• plying
• commanding
• piloting

4

as in supervising

to look after and make decisions about

she takes care of the flower beds, and he handles all the lawn care

Synonyms & Similar Words

• managing
• supervising
• overseeing
• operating
• controlling
• regulating
• conducting
• governing
• running
• administering
• keeping
• directing
• guiding
• administrating
• protecting
• tending
• superintending
• carrying on
• presiding (over)
• watching over
• stewarding
• steering
• overlooking
• leading
• watching
• safeguarding
• guarding
• piloting
• caring (for)
• minding
• micromanaging
• stage-managing
• codirecting
• comanaging
• co-managing
• co-directing

5

as in tolerating

to put up with (something painful or difficult)

I can't handle much more of this foul weather

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tolerating
• accepting
• standing
• enduring
• taking
• sustaining
• bearing
• absorbing
• supporting
• swallowing
• stomaching
• meeting
• living with
• hacking
• sticking out
• wearing
• standing for
• pocketing
• abiding
• countenancing
• biding
• lumping (it)
• going
• sweating out
• brooking
• suffering
• permitting
• allowing
• toughing it out
• respecting
• reconciling (to)
• yielding (to)
• submitting (to)
• acquiescing
• consenting (to)
• agreeing (with or to)
• assenting (to)
• capitulating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refusing
• rejecting
• dismissing
• declining
• fighting
• opposing
• resisting
• combating
• avoiding
• turning down
• repudiating
• combatting
• contesting
• missing
• escaping
• evading
• dodging
• spurning
• bypassing
• circumventing
• eluding
• refraining (from)
• abstaining (from)
• forbearing

6

as in overseeing

to be in charge of

I'll be handling the team's workouts while the leader is on vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• supervising
• overseeing
• managing
• steering
• commanding
• controlling
• directing
• heading
• running
• superintending
• guiding
• ordering
• watching over
• overlooking
• monitoring
• administering
• showing
• bossing
• quarterbacking
• riding herd on
• captaining
• calling the shots (of)
• calling the tune (for)
• governing
• shepherding
• presiding (over)
• ruling
• reigning

Examples of handling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

According to a recent New Scripps News/Ipsos poll, 44% of respondents believe Trump will do a better job handling immigration, compared to 34% who said Harris would do a better job. —Annabella Rosciglione, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 27 Sep. 2024

Aramark has faced criticism over its handling of maintenance and guest services, particularly as concerns about safety and environmental impact grow. —Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 24 Sep. 2024

Before the release of the body camera footage, there had been growing public criticism of the officers' handling of the situation, including from the family of one bystander, 49-year-old Gregory Delpeche, who was shot in the head by police gunfire. —Landon Mion, Fox News, 21 Sep. 2024

Yerushalmi’s death, along with five other Israeli captives, ignited fresh rage in the country, much of it directed at the handling of the crisis by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. —Rob Picheta, CNN, 20 Sep. 2024