as in ability
mental skill or quickness
maneuvered his opponent into checkmate with his customary finesse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to negotiate
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care
had to finesse the schedule a bit to fit in another patient that afternoon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to evade
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
tried to finesse the blame for the foreign policy fiasco, even though he was secretary of state at the time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of finesse
Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
The end result was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, offering a bit of muscular tannins; Cabernet Franc, adding aromatics and finesse; and, finally, a touch of Petit Verdot.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2025
Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 20 Jan. 2025
All the extra sh*t that comes with it, that means that someone is trying to devalue you or finesse you out of something.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 27 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Noun
Greentree’s game is all about subtle soft skill/finesse for a big, strong kid.
—Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
The end result was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, offering a bit of muscular tannins; Cabernet Franc, adding aromatics and finesse; and, finally, a touch of Petit Verdot.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2025
Verb
The second hat was then finessed and shipped within four days.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 20 Jan. 2025
All the extra sh*t that comes with it, that means that someone is trying to devalue you or finesse you out of something.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 27 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finesse
Noun
-
Read More: How Climate Change Will Affect the Seasons The firings, which are expected to continue in the coming days, have sparked outrage among experts and lawmakers, who warn that such cuts could severely hamper NOAA's ability to respond to the increasing severity of weather events.—
Nik Popli,
TIME,
28 Feb. 2025
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Guided by experienced faculty and industry mentors, students demonstrate their abilities and learn about styling, marketing, event planning and production, visuals, industry relations, among other things.—
Lisa Lockwood,
WWD,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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During the meeting, Trump berated Zelensky, accusing him of insufficient gratitude for U.S. military support and pressuring him to negotiate a peace deal with Russia under terms dictated by the Trump administration.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
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Cole has argued Republicans are not bound to an agreement negotiated by two men no longer in office.—
Kevin Freking,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Colt escapes by initially driving a speedboat while facing away from the controls, evades his pursuers by zigging and zagging through the river, and then purposefully drives his boat into a floating pontoon, faking his own death via the gigantic explosion.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2025
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Now, however, DHS states that the previous rules hindered law enforcement efforts by creating sites where people without legal status could evade capture.—
Jackie Fortiér,
NPR,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Their prowess on the field has shattered entrenched stereotypes, drawing lucrative sponsorships, driving record-breaking television ratings, and fostering the expansion of domestic and international women’s leagues.—
Priya Oberoi,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
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Even though Tigers — and everybody in the gym — knew Geneva was going to run things through Kirby, his prowess in the high post still caused fits.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But they had been manipulated by homeowners and businesses, and used to block all kinds of new construction.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
The New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2025
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Editing concerns truly manipulating an image, making changes to particular areas, and adding content like text, shapes, or other images on top of the original.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Hop on a scooter to wind through the island’s melodic rainforest or paddle out to Koh Nok on a kayak for a day trip (side note: boat tours tend to stop here around lunch time, aim for earlier in the day to avoid the crowds).—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2025
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Unfortunately, Hartford continues to avoid the heavy lifting that is required to have a successful system.—
Vincent Turley,
Hartford Courant,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The ceremony celebrates the biggest successes in the music industry and promotes new talent.—
Monica Mercuri,
StyleCaster,
1 Mar. 2025
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This team is made up of a ton of young talent and it's worked out well on the court.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The crew then tried to wheel the body toward the business class section but were unable to maneuver it through the narrow aisle, Ring said.—
Chris Lau,
CNN,
26 Feb. 2025
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The first three episodes, in fact, are at their most entertaining, and most promising, as all the lawyers maneuver to snag promotions, field counteroffers and throw dirt at opponents.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Finesse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finesse. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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