1
as in to negotiate
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care
let me look at my schedule and see if I can't finagle a visit to the museum
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cheat
to use dishonest methods to achieve a goal
she'll finagle until she gets exactly what she wants
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 finagle
That's a reasonable take, but getting to the point of expanding the postseason once again is going to take some finagling at this time.
—
Trey Wallace Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
The suction is strong enough to suck up anything that might finagle its way into your car, including dirt, sand, dust, pet hair, and crumbs.
—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
For years, job hoppers could finagle higher pay in new roles.
—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
This period comedy set in England in the 1930s stars Ben Radcliffe as a thief who swindles his way into a hall boy position at posh Fackham Hall, only to hook up with the daughter of the house and finagle his way into a position of privilege.
—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for finagle
Trey Wallace Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
The suction is strong enough to suck up anything that might finagle its way into your car, including dirt, sand, dust, pet hair, and crumbs.
—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
For years, job hoppers could finagle higher pay in new roles.
—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
This period comedy set in England in the 1930s stars Ben Radcliffe as a thief who swindles his way into a hall boy position at posh Fackham Hall, only to hook up with the daughter of the house and finagle his way into a position of privilege.
—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for finagle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finagle
Verb
-
The market is oversaturated, and Riley is a genius for not only recognizing that but realizing that all of these new DJs are going to need lawyers to negotiate their contracts.
-
The decision, which was widely anticipated, does not end the pact immediately, but rather kicks off a decade-long annual review process for the three countries to negotiate on the treaty until the USMCA officially expires in 2036.
Verb
-
The American grandmaster shed some light on his mindset following Kramnik’s cheating accusations in a livestream prior to his death, according to the Associated Press.
-
Trump has also continued to claim Democrats are trying to rig or cheat in the upcoming election, remarks that have faced rebukes from members of his own party.
Verb
-
The floorplan is arranged with a clear separation between the living areas and private sleeping quarters of the home.
-
Bunting arranged this way is appropriate for covering a speaker’s desk, draping the front of a platform or general decoration.
Verb
-
Prosecutors detailed at least four games in which the defendants are alleged to have schemed to have Beasley manipulate individual game stats for the benefit of gamblers.
-
Among the schemes cited by officials was ATM jackpotting, a technically sophisticated form of theft in which criminals manipulate ATMs through malware, network intrusion or physical tampering to trigger unauthorized cash withdrawals.
Cite this Entry
“Finagle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finagle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
