finesse

[ fi-ness ]

See synonyms for: finesse finessing on Thesaurus.com

noun

extreme delicacy or subtlety in action, performance, skill, discrimination, taste, etc.
skill in handling a difficult or highly sensitive situation; adroit and artful management: exceptional diplomatic finesse.

a trick, artifice, or stratagem.
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.

verb (used without object),fi·nessed, fi·ness·ing.

to use finesse or artifice.
to make a finesse at cards.

verb (used with object),fi·nessed, fi·ness·ing.

to bring about by finesse or artifice.
to avoid; circumvent.

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

Origin of finesse

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English: “degree of excellence or purity,” from Middle French, from fin fine¹ + -esse -ice

Other words for finesse

1, 2	tact, diplomacy, savoir faire, circumspection, sensitivity, sensibility

See synonyms for finesse on Thesaurus.com

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use finesse in a sentence

The cleverer man of the two lost the game by over-finessing.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 68, No. 421, November 1850 | Various
They made for him boldly; there was no need of finessing in his case.
Harvard Stories | Waldron Kintzing Post
A right-down good hare Millichip turned out to be; doubling and twisting and finessing, and exasperating the hounds considerably.
Johnny Ludlow, Second Series | Mrs. Henry Wood
He threw aside his first intention of finessing Belle into his bedroom on the plea of asking her to help him to pack.
The Sins of the Children | Cosmo Hamilton
Come, Chief Inspector, this finessing with me is highly improper on your part—highly improper.
The Secret Agent | Joseph Conrad

British Dictionary definitions for finesse

finesse

/ (fɪˈnɛs) /

noun

elegant skill in style or performance
subtlety and tact in handling difficult situations

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
a trick, artifice, or strategy

verb

to manage or bring about with finesse
to play (a card) as a finesse

Origin of finesse

C15: from Old French, from fin fine, delicate; see fine 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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