FINESSED Synonyms: 102 Similar and Opposite Words

finessed

verb

past tense of finesse

as in negotiated

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in avoided

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 finessed For spring, the Leaf Intarsia collection expanded to encompass the Iside Mini, the Iside Tìn, and the signature Tric Trac handbags in a fresh summer color palette, finessed with the recognizable white trim. — Katie Abel, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026 Importantly, there was a feeling, according to multiple sources, that Jackson had scope to be finessed. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 The two scenes that were finessed the most, where McKenna’s interpretation of Nicky was most crucial, were his first meeting with Ralph (Winston Sawyers) and his Episode 1 confrontation with Jack (Lox Pratt). — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 31 May 2026 The immaculate lineup of laminated pastries, like a pandan cream croissant, is similarly finessed. — Allecia Vermillion, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026 The director also finessed Hollywood. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Dec. 2025 Back in Miami, Winter finessed his preparation with former Duncan Ensemble dancer Ivette Sotomayor. — Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025 Cruz finessed his way into not allowing a Red Sox runner to cross the plate, keeping the score tied. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025 Man Ray is one of the few Dada-Surrealist cusp figures who finessed affiliations with both movements without alienating either one. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for finessed

Verb

The deal was negotiated by Bressack and Matthew Helderman, CEO and co-founder of BondIt and Buffalo 8.

— Mya Copeland, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
The women negotiated a lease and arranged to meet him at his home.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of negotiated

Verb

The low-dropout regulator which converts battery voltage into a steady supply is specifically engineered to avoid adding noise.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026
Against one of the nation’s most talented defenses, Florida’s first-time starting quarterback calmly engineered the kind of drive that wins championships and changes seasons.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of engineered

Verb

Last year, a Houthi missile evaded Israel’s vaunted air defenses and impacted near Ben Gurion airport.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
State police said evidence was located at the scene which indicated that a 2022 Triumph Rocket 3 GT, operated by 56-year-old Alexander Rivera of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, was struck by vehicle that allegedly evaded the scene.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of evaded

Verb

The Delhi agitation centers on allegations that voter lists were manipulated during the Special Intensive Revision exercise.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
The researchers then manipulated the scenario by changing what happened after the focal bee returned to the hive and gave directions to the feeder.

— Marta Hill, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of manipulated

Verb

Detours and shortcuts in the brain The cells and synapses of the brain aren’t arranged in rigid, linear paths for each task and experience.

— Sean Mccabe, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Desperate for actual contact with Holmes, Fielder has arranged to meet her briefly at the prison before Evans shows up.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of arranged

Verb

But a few months later, at her 18-month appointment, the standard graph that plotted a child’s weight against their age showed her weight slipping off the curve.

— Raj Panjabi, Time, 13 Oct. 2026
By the time the coffee shop building was going up at the end of the route in 1959, Fresco said, interstate freeways were already beginning to usurp Route 66’s role and the Santa Monica route of Interstate 10 had been plotted.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of plotted

Browse Nearby Words

finesse

finessed

finesses

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Finessed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finessed. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of finessed

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes