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
Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 23 Feb. 2026
Together, Joseph and Eliza Raney brought their Californian culinary finesse to a 50-seat sweet spot in historic Custer, South Dakota.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Dec. 2025
Assuming that forces an honor, finesse the six on the second.
—Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Noun
The restaurant opened in July 2019, taking over the former Chef’s Kitchen space on Beaver Avenue and launching with a menu that married familiarity and finesse.
—Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 23 Feb. 2026
Together, Joseph and Eliza Raney brought their Californian culinary finesse to a 50-seat sweet spot in historic Custer, South Dakota.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
The director also finessed Hollywood.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Dec. 2025
Assuming that forces an honor, finesse the six on the second.
—Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finesse
Noun
-
His ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the hole is impressive.—
Alissa Noe,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The conjunction between Mercury and fiery Mars in your 5th House of Originality ignites your ability to express yourself with flair that showcases your talent and resilience.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The residents and owners are negotiating a settlement agreement where residents receive compensation for moving off the property by a certain date, the attorneys said.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
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The only problem is, negotiating and understanding the subsequent paradoxes — which writer/director Shane Carruth made little effort to simplify — requires a PhD in high-level physics.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Israel's military says Iran is firing cluster bombs that can evade some air defenses and scatter submunitions across multiple locations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The driver, 21-year-old Joel Gandarilla, was hospitalized and faces a charge of evading detention with a vehicle, according to the Police Department’s online arrest records.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But the Knicks’ talent — and size — advantage was simply too much to overcome down the stretch.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The amount of talent on the field at the same time was, indeed, surreal.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But there was also outside criticism that the Heat manipulated the game to get Adebayo to 83 points on Tuesday, with the Heat intentionally missing a free throw and committing at least one intentional foul in the final minutes to get Adebayo extra possessions down the stretch of the game.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
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Today, however, too many publications seek to manipulate or outright cover up stories that shed a negative light on their preferred party.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Heat, which has needed to qualify for the playoffs through the NBA’s play-in tournament in each of the last three seasons, needs to finish among the East’s top six teams to clinch a playoff spot and avoid the play-in tournament.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The two sides are meeting for a fifth consecutive day Saturday in hopes of getting a CBA finished in a timely fashion to avoid any potential delays to the upcoming WNBA season.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Oreade, the fine dining restaurant, is where Chef Riccardo Bacciottini unleashes his creativity and technical prowess, using local ingredients (many plucked right from the hotel’s gardens) to make sublime dishes like tomato tartare with basil and miso or artichokes confited with pepper sauce.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
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San Francisco’s Le Fantastique (and its delicate caviar eclairs) shuttered back in 2023, and now chef Robbie Wilson is taking his culinary prowess to Music City.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That leaves little room for the tankers or the naval ships escorting them to maneuver, said Jennifer Parker, adjunct fellow in naval studies at UNSW Canberra and a former Australian naval officer with experience in the Persian Gulf.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
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Machado tossed a scoreless eighth after maneuvering around a pair of two-out singles.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Finesse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finesse. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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