Meaning & use
Finessed
Last updated
Handled a situation with skill, subtlety, and tact, or manipulated something cleverly to achieve a desired outcome.
See it in a sentence
The diplomat finessed the negotiations to avoid an embarrassing standoff.
She finessed her way past the strict bouncer with a friendly smile.
A note on using this word
In card games like bridge, "to finesse" specifically means to play a strategic card to try to win a trick despite holding a lower-ranked hand.
Words with a similar meaning
maneuveredmanaged skillfully
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Words with an opposite meaning
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