Synonyms of finagle

finagle

verb

fə-ˈnā-gəl 

1

as in to negotiate

to plan out usually with subtle skill or care

let me look at my schedule and see if I can't finagle a visit to the museum

Synonyms & Similar Words

• negotiate
• arrange
• manipulate
• engineer
• manage
• wangle
• maneuver
• contrive
• plot
• finesse
• conclude
• frame
• machinate
• mastermind
• scheme
• concoct
• concert
• connive
• conduct
• handle
• hammer out
• work out
• hatch
• direct
• intrigue
• compass
• angle (for)
• brew
• cook (up)
• run
• command
• gerrymander
• quarterback
• captain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• botch
• mangle
• blow
• butcher
• bungle
• gum (up)
• fumble
• mishandle
• mess (up)
• flub
• muff
• louse up
• bobble

2

as in to cheat

to use dishonest methods to achieve a goal

she'll finagle until she gets exactly what she wants

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cheat
• fudge
• evade
• distort
• crib
• falsify
• chicane
• misrepresent
• elaborate
• pad
• misinterpret
• exaggerate
• embellish
• misstate
• embroider
• dodge
• warp
• pervert
• stretch
• tamper (with)
• fake
• twist
• color
• magnify
• hedge
• doctor

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of finagle

After Lestat finagles his way into becoming the King Raj of Mardi Gras in 1940, the vampire trio throws an extravagant bash that ends in a bloodbath. — Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026

In Europe with friends, Reed finagled his way into the Venice Film Festival in 1965 and interviewed Buster Keaton and Jean-Paul Belmondo. — Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026

Try finagling these parts out, or read the manual for your model to see if this is an option. — Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano, The Spruce, 11 May 2026

That's a reasonable take, but getting to the point of expanding the postseason once again is going to take some finagling at this time. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026