noun
Uncommon
finesse
fih-NEHS
Finesse (noun) means Skilful and delicate handling of a difficult or sensitive situation. Example: “The negotiation required real finesse to keep both sides happy.”
noun
1
Skilful and delicate handling of a difficult or sensitive situation.
"The negotiation required real finesse to keep both sides happy."
"She played the tricky solo with impressive finesse."
verb
1
To handle a tricky situation cleverly or skilfully, often to get around a problem.
"He managed to finesse his way out of an awkward question."
How to use finesse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDoing something tricky or delicate with skill and subtlety rather than brute force.
Common pairings
with finesse
finesse a deal
lack finesse
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Word forms
- Plural
- finesses
- Third person singular
- finesses
- Past tense
- finessed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The negotiation required real _____ to keep both sides happy.
Etymology
From Old French finesse, related to fin ("fine, refined"), ultimately from Latin finis ("an end") — the sense evolved from "refinement" to "a skilful, subtle way of getting what you want."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for finesse
See all rhymes for finesse →Frequently asked questions
What does “finesse” mean?
The word “finesse” means skilful and delicate handling of a difficult or sensitive situation. In plain terms, doing something tricky or delicate with skill and subtlety rather than brute force.
How do you pronounce “finesse”?
“Finesse” is pronounced fih-NEHS (/fɪˈnɛs/ in IPA).
How do you use “finesse” in a sentence?
Here is “finesse” used in a sentence: “The negotiation required real finesse to keep both sides happy.”
What part of speech is “finesse”?
Depending on how it is used, “finesse” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “finesse” come from?
The word “finesse” comes from Latin. From Old French finesse, related to fin ("fine, refined"), ultimately from Latin finis ("an end") — the sense evolved from "refinement" to "a skilful, subtle way of getting what you want.".
Is “finesse” a common word?
“Finesse” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “finesse” have?
“Finesse” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: skilful and delicate handling of a difficult or sensitive situation.
