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
William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025
Gone are the tedious, cat and mouse 30-dink rallies of 2023 and 2024; 2025 and these pairs are pedal-to-the-medal, attack at will, power before finesse, and in this observer’s opinion, the watch-ability and televise-ability is improved for it.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Lora Kelley, The Atlantic, 26 Nov. 2024
Then, the backers of candidates that show potential (based on reactions and reviews) begin finessing their pitches (emphasizing narratives that present them in the best possible light) and courting voters (at screenings and receptions, and through Q&As and interviews).
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Noun
The finesse in the blacksmithing minigame is great, but so little of it is explained, with the tutorials not covering what most of the button prompts actually do.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025
Gone are the tedious, cat and mouse 30-dink rallies of 2023 and 2024; 2025 and these pairs are pedal-to-the-medal, attack at will, power before finesse, and in this observer’s opinion, the watch-ability and televise-ability is improved for it.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
Swift isn’t the first star to finesse her own advantageous publishing situation.
—Lora Kelley, The Atlantic, 26 Nov. 2024
Then, the backers of candidates that show potential (based on reactions and reviews) begin finessing their pitches (emphasizing narratives that present them in the best possible light) and courting voters (at screenings and receptions, and through Q&As and interviews).
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finesse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finesse
Noun
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There are many reasons a person might hesitate to partake in French ring, a sport where dogs are judged on their agility, obedience and ability to provide protection.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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The funding losses, Shaffer said, challenge the department’s ability to protect vulnerable residents and respond to emerging health threats.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Others are holding off or attempting to negotiate with the Trump administration to lower the rates.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
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Michael Barbaro speaks to Thomas Sipp, a lawyer who chose to quit after his firm, Skadden, negotiated a deal to placate the president. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture.—
Michael Barbaro,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The group has claimed dozens of strikes against Israel throughout the war in Gaza, some of which have managed to evade the country's state-of-the-art air defense systems.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
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Overtourism is to blame That year, a railway company also launched a probe against four popular YouTubers over their stunt to evade fares on public transport, according to local media.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The skit cunningly notes that a lot of what has been said about Smith wouldn’t be said to his face and taps nearly four decades of comedy prowess.—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Rolling Stone,
31 Mar. 2025
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Ascendant and Mars lead to passion Typically, this denotes a sensual attraction that bonds people together with their prowess.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
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While Ticketmaster denies using surge pricing or dynamic algorithms to manipulate prices, fans like Jessica Chou question if their early participation in presales might be contributing to higher initial costs.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
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Decades earlier, Loftus had demonstrated that people’s memories of visual details could be manipulated by posing questions that contained misinformation.—
Bernice Andrews,
Scientific American,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In another legend, the monk was said to have cut off his eyelids to avoid falling asleep during his meditation, one explanation for the doll’s wide-eyed stare.—
Rebecca Cairns,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
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Facing the Marlins for the second time in a week, the Mets (7-3) avoided facing ace Sandy Alcantara, with the 2022 Cy Young Award winner having been added to the paternity list earlier in the day.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Jennie is the latest talent from the K-pop outfit to manage a special feat on the American rankings this week.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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Royals starter Kris Bubic continues to marvel at his teammate’s elite talent on the field.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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While SpaceX has a clear advantage in number of launches, schedule assurance, and pricing—and reliability comparable to ULA—Bruno has recently touted the Vulcan rocket's ability to maneuver over long periods in space as a differentiator.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
5 Apr. 2025
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The immediate focus of his studio, Morris says, is on demonstrating autonomous docking with and relocation of orbiting satellites and spacecraft that have lost their ability to maneuver.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Finesse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finesse. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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