finesse

American  

[fi-ness] / fɪˈnɛss /

noun

1. extreme delicacy or subtlety in action, performance, skill, discrimination, taste, etc.

   Synonyms:

   sensibility, sensitivity, circumspection, diplomacy, tact

2. skill in handling a difficult or highly sensitive situation; adroit and artful management.

   exceptional diplomatic finesse.

   Synonyms:

   sensibility, sensitivity, circumspection, diplomacy, tact

3. a trick, artifice, or stratagem.

4. Bridge, Whist. an attempt to win a trick with a card while holding a higher card not in sequence with it, in the hope that the card or cards between will not be played.

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verb (used without object)

finesses, present (3rd person singular) finessed, past participle, past finessing present participle

1. to use finesse or artifice.

2. to make a finesse at cards.

verb (used with object)

finesses, present (3rd person singular) finessed, past participle, past finessing present participle

1. to bring about by finesse or artifice.

2. to avoid; circumvent.

3. to make a finesse with (a card).

4. to force the playing of (a card) by a finesse.

finesse British  

/ fɪˈnɛs /

noun

1. elegant skill in style or performance

2. subtlety and tact in handling difficult situations

3. bridge whist an attempt to win a trick when opponents hold a high card in the suit led by playing a lower card, hoping the opponent who has already played holds the missing card

4. a trick, artifice, or strategy

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verb

1. to manage or bring about with finesse

2. to play (a card) as a finesse

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have finessed
  perfect
• has finessed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is finessing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are finessing
  progressive
• finessing
  participle
• has been finessing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am finessing
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been finessing
  perfect progressive
• finesses
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had finessed
  perfect
• were finessing
  progressive plural
• was finessing
  progressive singular
• finessed
  simple
• finessed
  participle
• had been finessing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will finesse
  simple
• will have finessed
  perfect
• will be finessing
  progressive
• will have been finessing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of finesse

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English: “degree of excellence or purity,” from Middle French, from fin fine ¹ + -esse -ice

Explanation

Having finesse means you can handle difficult situations with diplomacy and tact, like the finesse it takes to help two friends work out their differences — without taking sides or alienating either one. Finesse is having grace under pressure. It's handling the rantings of an angry customer with a smile and a calm tone. Someone who has finesse says the right thing at the right time — or knows when to say nothing at all. Finesse looks like fineness and in fact comes from the Middle French word that means exactly that — delicate in nature. People with finesse can handle anything — with a delicate approach that really works.

Example Sentences

The mayor said he has played pickup basketball at city courts, including at Brooklyn Bridge Park, but acknowledges his style lacks finesse.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

The center, to the chagrin of many in the NBA, has long been known more for his finesse touch shots than physical play.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026

But what he might lack in rhetorical finesse, he more than has in job experience, as least as defined by Trump.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026

In their briefings, government lawyers finesse a sanitized version into a clean narrative of law-abiding responsibility.

From Slate • Feb. 18, 2026

She says I don’t look like I’m marching in step anymore so it’s much more natural AND she says that shows a lot of finesse.

From "Mockingbird" by Kathryn Erskine

Related Words

• acumen
• competence
• guile
• quickness
• savvy
• skill
• sophistication
• subtlety
• tact