FINESSES Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

finesses

verb

present tense third-person singular of finesse

as in negotiates

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 avoids

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for finesses

Verb

By the time a large organization evaluates one, runs it through security, negotiates access and puts it into production, another model is already getting the headlines.

— Doug Shannon, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Still, the complete omission of the TV (or film) studios is surprising, as is the lack of mention of Paramount’s pay cable network Showtime, which, like the basic cable nets, negotiates carriage agreements.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of negotiates

Verb

Resolving the case avoids a trial where Merrill intended to defend its rates as standard among bank sweep programs, arguing that sweep accounts are meant for short-term liquidity rather than long-term investment yield.

— Chase Jordan October 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026
The shorter route could significantly reduce transportation costs and also avoids geopolitical chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, Yoo said.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of avoids

Verb

When Gilla Band hit the road, their front-of-house guy drives, Fox also engineers, Kiely sells merch, and Faulkner runs tech.

— Laura Snapes, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026
Our enterprising Gravedigger, a true woman of science, engineers a lizard elixir and regenerates the finger into a long tentacle that eventually demands a body.

— Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026

Definition of engineers

Verb

Neither of those interpretations would be entirely invalid, exactly, and yet The Basics of Philosophy — ironically enough, given its title — mostly evades any such moral didacticism.

— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026
Journalists and negotiators follow up when someone evades the point.

— Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of evades

Verb

The series follows Mónica, a newly qualified lawyer who learns to defraud clients, manipulates her family to secure an inheritance, then betrays her mentor.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
In an interview with the Shade Room last year, Knight’s son, Shanga Hankerson, claimed McDowell pushed the singer into performing and manipulates her.

— Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of manipulates

Verb

At the end, however, Mary escapes the train and is given a second chance to live.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
The cost of a homegrown tool, including an error that escapes into production, say on a manufacturing line or in a financial services security breach, is huge.

— Dan Faulkner, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of escapes

Verb

The team’s creepiest and most contented member is Xavier Von Erck (Matthew Maher), an online vigilante who arranges the show’s meetups, spending his days and nights fishing around in online chat rooms.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026
AmaWaterways arranges pre- and post-cruise stays of several nights in both cities with luxury accommodations, cultural exploration led by local experts, and transfers between hotel and ship.

— Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of arranges

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.

Browse Nearby Words

finessed

finesses

finessing

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Finesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finesses. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of finesses

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

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

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

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

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

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes