finagle
[ fi-ney-guhl ]
/ fɪˈneɪ gəl /
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verb (used with object), fi·na·gled, fi·na·gling.
to trick, swindle, or cheat (a person) (often followed by out of): He finagled the backers out of a fortune.
to get or achieve (something) by guile, trickery, or manipulation: to finagle an assignment to the Membership Committee.
verb (used without object), fi·na·gled, fi·na·gling.
to practice deception or fraud; scheme.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Sometimes fe·na·gle .
OTHER WORDS FROM finagle
fi·na·gler, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use finagle in a sentence
She uncovers a reprehensible example of cronyism, elitism, and vote finagling which reflects some Israeli Leftist shortcomings.
British Dictionary definitions for finagle
finagle
/ (fɪˈneɪɡəl) /
verb informal
(tr) to get or achieve by trickery, craftiness, or persuasion; wangle
to use trickery or craftiness on (a person)
Derived forms of finagle
finagler, nounWord Origin for finagle
C20: probably changed from dialect fainaigue
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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