finesse
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.
to use finesse or artifice.
to make a finesse at cards.
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
1Other words for finesse
1, 2 | tact, diplomacy, savoir faire, circumspection, sensitivity, sensibility |
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.
They made for him boldly; there was no need of finessing in his case.
Harvard Stories | Waldron Kintzing PostA 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 WoodHe 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 HamiltonCome, Chief Inspector, this finessing with me is highly improper on your part—highly improper.
The Secret Agent | Joseph Conrad
British Dictionary definitions for finesse
/ (fɪˈnɛs) /
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
to manage or bring about with finesse
to play (a card) as a finesse
Origin of finesse
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse