WordValefinesse
refined skill and subtlety
In more detail
1. (noun) skill and cleverness in dealing with something; the ability to handle something delicately or with style
2. (noun) a subtle trick or clever technique
3. (verb) to handle or deal with something in a skillful or clever way
Examples
- 1. She showed great finesse in managing the difficult negotiation.
- 2. The magician used finesse to make the coin disappear.
- 3. He finessedhis way through the problem by using intelligence rather than force.
How to use finesse
Finesse emphasizes not just competence but an elegant, refined, or subtle approach to handling something difficult or delicate. It carries connotations of grace and cleverness, often implying the ability to achieve something through tact rather than direct force. The noun is more common than the verb in contemporary usage.
Common phrases
- with finesse
- finesse and style
- political finesse
- lack finesse
- finesse a situation
Synonyms
skill · elegance · sophistication · tact · dexterity
Opposites
clumsiness · bluntness
Word family
finessed (verb, past tense) · finessing (verb, present participle) · finesse (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use finesse as a synonym for simple skill or ability, missing the nuance that it involves grace, subtlety, or a clever technique rather than straightforward competence.
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