HANDLES Synonyms: 223 Similar and Opposite Words

handles 1 of 2

verb

Definition of handles

present tense third-person singular of handle

as in manages

to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently as host of a live TV talk show, she must handle any situation that comes up

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in treats

to behave toward in a stated way handles all requests professionally, even when customers are rude

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as in operates

to control the mechanical operation of learned how to handle basic woodworking power tools

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as in supervises

to look after and make decisions about she takes care of the flower beds, and he handles all the lawn care

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as in accepts

to put up with (something painful or difficult) I can't handle much more of this foul weather

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in oversees

to be in charge of I'll be handling the team's workouts while the leader is on vacation

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handles

2 of 2

noun

plural of handle

as in grips

a part by which an implement is held was given a set a steak knives with wooden handles

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as in names

a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known likes to go by the handle "Champ"

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as in nicknames

a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual since it seemed decreed that every new firefighter have a handle, his was soon "Hulk"

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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 handles

Verb

If a policy doesn’t say how AI handles your data, don’t assume it’s handled responsibly. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Sara Qudah, who handles the Middle East for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said Levine's beating was not an isolated incident for journalists covering the West Bank olive harvest. — Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026 Rudelli handles much of the day-to-day administrative work of the Holy See. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Investors connect their digital wallets and submit a sale, while Fission handles the legal and trading mechanics behind the scenes. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026 The machine also handles the delicate prep that takes humans years to master, like selecting tools and lining up each cut. — Joe Mullich, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 One pouch handles a solo dinner, or stretch two or three across the family. — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 15 Oct. 2026 Netflix will stream it in Latin America, Spain and Portugal in 2027 following a theatrical run, while Luxbox handles international sales. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 That high smoke point is a big part of why tallow handles hot pans and deep fryers without breaking down. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026

Noun

Among the items back on Greek soil are black- and red-figure vessels, some with handles, decorated with scenes from Greek mythology, and would have been used in everyday life or as burial offerings. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 14 Oct. 2026 Resort staff confirmed that the knives, which had teal handles, did not belong to the lodge, according to the complaint. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Lindsay Olson, principal and founder of Lulu Designs in Costa Mesa, California, suggests finding a twin trundle with simple handles. — Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2026 There is grease and food debris on the floor around the equipment, grease on equipment handles and debris on the floor of the walk-in cooler. — Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026 Jaguar Land Rover Inside, there’s a distinctive slim horizontal display for primary driving and navigation data, while a smartphone-sized 7-inch vertical touchscreen handles climate functions on the console. — New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026 The house’s familiar domed shape was paired with top handles, gold-tone hardware and a detachable shoulder strap. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026 The days of swinging plastic handles may be coming to an end. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026 The tight-fitting lid helps retain heat and moisture, and the wide handles provide a secure grip. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 28 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for handles

Verb

American Transmission Company, a utility firm that develops and manages high-voltage transmission lines, has seen rapid growth, in part thanks to the AI and data center buildout.

— Ted Kitterman, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
The firm manages the cable’s arrival on France’s Atlantic coast and integrates it into Europe’s terrestrial network.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of manages

Verb

Beyond rocket production, Blue Origin operates facilities across Cocoa, Melbourne, Orlando, and Titusville.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Djrum is the rare DJ who operates almost entirely outside the world of genre; his sets swing from breakcore to IDM, jungle to techno, garage to field recordings to—well—whatever, really, depending on mood.

— Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of operates

Verb

Request the treating physician’s name and qualifications, then ask who performs each stage and how the physician supervises the team.

— Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Frot-Coutaz also supervises Sky Studios Elstree, Sky’s state-of-the-art film and TV studio, plus Sky Studios’ global portfolio of production companies that includes Blast!

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of supervises

Verb

At the end of the chain, oxygen accepts the electrons and, together with protons, becomes water.

— Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
After the portal accepts your filing Use the portal’s search function to locate an existing notice and monitor your filing record.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of accepts

Verb

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which oversees vehicle safety, largely relies on automakers to certify that their cars meet federal standards.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Working with her daughter Rachele Regini, who oversees much of the programming, Chiuri hopes to create a space where theater, dance, music and other disciplines intersect.

— Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of oversees

Noun

Although first published nearly fifty years ago, this is still the best place to start for anyone who wants to get to grips with the Venetian Republic.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
The older contingent of media and entertainment leaders have to come to grips with the fact that the world’s population is getting younger.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of grips

Noun

Cult members lived in makeshift homes of polythene sheeting and thatch that Mackenzie divided into areas with biblical names like Jerusalem and Judea.

— Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
A lot of these names and others like Sam Altman are popping up in popular culture and in Hollywood now.

— Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of names

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Style

“Handles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handles. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of handles

verb

noun

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