as in ability
mental skill or quickness
maneuvered his opponent into checkmate with his customary finesse
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of finesse
Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Every team needs an unrelenting leader, someone who fights and cusses and protects its stars, who provides the force so others can deliver the finesse.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2025
Esther Kang, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Could that clunky, creepy dialogue not have been finessed a little?
—Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Noun
There was no finesse or flair, and Coventry, who finished the regular season with a wet sail while the team above them floundered, were only too willing to take the game to Sunderland.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Every team needs an unrelenting leader, someone who fights and cusses and protects its stars, who provides the force so others can deliver the finesse.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2025
Verb
Fans saw Belinda and her son (Nicholas Duvernay) ride off into the sunset after finessing a $5 million check from Greg (Jon Gries) in exchange for keeping quiet about his involvement in his late wife Tanya's (Jennifer Coolidge) murder.
—Esther Kang, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Could that clunky, creepy dialogue not have been finessed a little?
—Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finesse
Noun
-
Industry watchers have long warned that Congress was under-funding the FAA, preventing the agency from upgrading its technology and limiting its ability to hire and train new air traffic controllers.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
-
Urban mobility—the ability of people and goods to move around efficiently sits at the center of this challenge.—
Hemanth Volikatla,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
The manufacturing giant had resumed negotiating with the IAM union on May 22.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
25 May 2025
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But as state lawmakers negotiate the first state operating budget since the prison was shuttered, Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration is proposing that Stateville receive nearly as much funding as when the maximum security section of the facility was open.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
The former prisoners who have continued to evade police for nearly a week include Leo Tate, Jermaine Donald, Derrick Groves, Lenton Vanburen and Antoine Massey, according to USA Today, while Corey Boyd, Gary Price, Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, and Dkenan Dennis have been re-arrested.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
22 May 2025
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Penguin Press, June 17 Image El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott After skipping town to evade a nagging creditor in 2008, Harper returns to her Detroit suburb months later to find her two older sisters, once in the throes of debt, sporting fresh highlights and driving a Lexus.—
Laura Thompson,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Noun
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But his prowess on the golf course goes well beyond Augusta National and Quail Hollow.—
Kendall Capps,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
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Last year – and despite their prowess – these golfers still averaged a score of 75.25 per round.—
Scott Kramer,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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All platforms manipulate users to keep them scrolling.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
23 May 2025
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Attackers can design prompts that insert malicious instructions through seemingly innocent prompts, manipulate the model to reset its understanding of its role or subtly influence the model's output by feeding misleading information or context.—
Etay Maor,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
Hoerner avoided the tag, which would’ve been the second out of the inning.—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
26 May 2025
-
The officer recommended the Palestinians be dressed in army clothes to avoid misidentification.—
Sam Mednick,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2025
Noun
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At the Democrat-Gazette, Dustin has cultivated strong connections within the local arts and entertainment community and finds joy in spotlighting the creative talents and inspiring stories of the region.—
Dustin Staggs,
Arkansas Online,
25 May 2025
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While the Clippers did get eliminated in the first round, adding a talent like LaMelo could change it all.—
Matt Levine,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
Verb
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His ball maneuvered through the trees, landing in the rough to the right of the fairway.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
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Length Longer kayaks are easier to steer in the water, but more tedious to maneuver on land.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Finesse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finesse. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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