FINESSE Synonyms: 165 Similar and Opposite Words

finesse 1 of 2

noun

fə-ˈnes

Definition of finesse

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

finesse

2 of 2

verb

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

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

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 finesse

Noun

Pierre and Chandler play off each other with gusto and finesse. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026 Instead, in their wake, the league veered far in the other direction, taking the finesse out of the game and turning on-court play into a street fight, with officials unable or unwilling to get their arms round the physicality. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026

Verb

This being Nantucket, the team contended with stringent zoning regulations governing building footprints, rooflines, and window heights; finessing the layout felt like expert-level Tetris. — David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 8 Apr. 2026 Repossi finessed the rose gold used in its latest spiraling Blast high jewelry pieces, playing up its yellow gleam under a gradient of orange gemstones. — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 20 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for finesse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for finesse

Noun

Minnesota signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2025, and his ability to play numerous positions keeps him on the roster.

— Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
The volume of options can outrun the firm’s ability to commit.

— Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of ability

Verb

He was booked into San Diego Central Jail on charges of felony evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety, obstructing or resisting a peace officer and driving under the influence of drugs, according to police.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Johnson has previously stated the Illinois constitution’s flat income tax rate evades the city’s wealth gap.

— Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of evade

Noun

During his seven-year tenure at the agency, Caoduro advised leading international fashion and luxury brands across global communications, media and corporate strategy and talent engagement.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026
Ultimately, genetics and talent establish the ceiling, but the evidence suggests a supportive sibling ecosystem helps alchemize raw potential into greatness, and the sibling that benefits most is the one that comes later.

— Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of talent

Verb

Last Wednesday, Meta reached a settlement with the attorneys general of forty-seven states, who had sued it for illegally manipulating the attention of children.

— Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
The finding could matter for quantum computers, where lasers are used to manipulate qubits and even tiny changes in their interactions can affect the accuracy of quantum operations.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of manipulate

Verb

City officials asked people to avoid the downtown area where police are investigating the shooting.

— Michael Loria, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Some China watchers, however, are keeping their expectations low, as both sides appear to be more interested in avoiding moves that would risk their current trade truce.

— Justina Lee, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of avoid

Noun

Hyppolite’s big-play prowess, along with a solid night from running back John Gray, led the way as North Miami Beach easily handled North Miami 27-7 to improve to 2-0 on the season.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Meanwhile, Mikael Wood waxed on Parton’s storytelling prowess in her music.

— Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of prowess

Verb

On top of working long hours in blistering heat and returning to a heat island, many Latinos then must maneuver the issue of older housing.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
That outsider status, some former advisors and close watchers of Carney say, is precisely what gives him room to maneuver, with Canadians seeing him as above the grubby backroom dealing of traditional politics.

— Desiree Adib, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of maneuver

Browse Nearby Words

finespun

finesse

finessed

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“Finesse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finesse. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of finesse

noun

verb

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