He did it with the finesse we've come to expect from Tom.
Source: tatoeba (9966089)
Finesse
/fɪˈnɛs/
Synonyms for "finesse" (257 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (52)
abilityacquired tasteacutenessaddressadeptnessadroitnessairmanshipangleappreciationappreciation of differencesappreciation of excellenceappreciativenessartartfulnessartificeartisanshipartistic judgmentartistryastutenessbeguile
Strong matches (77)
conspirecontrivancecontrivingcontrolcook upcoordinationcounterminecounterplotcovincraftcraftinesscraftsmanshipcritical nicenesscriticalnesscultivated tastecultivationculturecunningcunningnessdaintiness
Show 54 more words
dashdeceitdeceivedeceptiondeep-laid plotdeftnessdelicacydeludedevicedexteritydexterousnessdextrousnessdiplomacydiscretiondiscriminating tastediscriminatingnessdiscriminationdiscriminativenessdodgeefficiencyelaneleganceengineerengineeringexcellenceexpedientexpertiseexpertnessexploitfacilityfastidiousnessfeelfeelingfinaglefinaglingfine italian handfine palatefoolfoxinessframeframe upframe-upgamegamesmanshipgood tastegracegracefulnessgracilitygraciositygraciousnessgripguilehandinesshatch
Noun(3 words)
Related words (128)
hatch a plothatch uphoodwinkhorsemanshipingeniousnessingenuityinsidiousnessintrigueinventivenessitalian handjockeyjudiciousnessknackknow howknow-howlay a plotlittle gamemachinatemachinationmaking distinctions
Show 93 more words
maneuvermaneuveringmanipulatemanipulationmanoeuvremarksmanshipmastershipmasterynicenessniceness of distinctionnicetyone upmanshipone-upmanshipoperateoutwitpalatepanacheplayplotplottingpolishpractical abilityproficiencyprowessqualityquicknessreadinessrefined discriminationrefined palaterefinementresourceresourcefulnessrigriggingrusesatanic cunningsavoir fairesavoir-fairesavvyschemeschemeryschemingseamanshipselectivenesssensesensibilitysensitivitysharpnessshiftshiftinessshrewdnessskillskillfulnessslipperinessslynesssneakinesssophisticationsophistrystealthstealthinessstratagemstrategystylesubtiltysubtlenesssubtletysupplenesstacttactfulnesstalenttastetastefulnesstechnical brilliancetechnical masterytechnical skilltechniquetimingtricktrickinesstwist and turnunderplotvirtuositywanglewarinessweb of intriguewilewileswilinesswire pullingwire-pullingwitwizardryworkmanship
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: delicacy, diplomacy, ability, acquired taste, acuteness.
- Sentence evidence is available for finesse, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "finesse".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "finesse"
Keep "finesse" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "finesse" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "finesse", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "finesse" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriesabilityaction verbcompetencedeceptionmanipulationproficiencyskilltacttactfulnesstransitive verbtrickery
More specific
12 entriesCollocations
10 entriesacademic finessecareful negotiationdelicate handlingfinesse in executionfinesse in negotiationpolished executionstrategic maneuveringsubtle finessesubtle manipulationtechnical finesse
Inflections
3 entriesTranslations
2 translations across 1 languages.
Spanish
2 entries- esquivar verb (to evade using some clever argument or stratagem)
- evadir verb (to evade using some clever argument or stratagem)
Sample sentences
30 total sentences available.
His style involves brute force, not finesse.
Source: tatoeba (9969634)
A lot of people can do that, but Tom does it with a rare finesse.
Source: tatoeba (10104671)
His innate understanding of pleasure allows him to explore and fulfill fantasies with finesse.
Source: tatoeba (12120150)
Showing 4 of 30 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "finesse"?
Closest matches include delicacy, diplomacy, ability, acquired taste, acuteness.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "finesse"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.