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finesse

noun
fi·​nesse | \ fÉ™-ˈnes How to pronounce finesse (audio) \

Definition of finesse

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : refinement or delicacy of workmanship, structure, or texture trinkets of an extreme finesse— Arnold Rosin
2 : skillful handling of a situation : adroit maneuvering She handled the interviewer's questions with finesse.
3 : the withholding of one's highest card or trump in the hope that a lower card will take the trick because the only opposing higher card is in the hand of an opponent who has already played

finesse

verb
finessed; finessing

Definition of finesse (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to make a finesse in playing cards

transitive verb

1 : to play (a card) in a finesse
2a : to bring about, direct, or manage by adroit maneuvering finesse his way through tight places— Marquis James
b : evade, skirt finesse the hard issues
Synonyms Finesse Started Out as a Noun More Example Sentences Learn More about finesse

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Finesse Started Out as a Noun

Verb

Finesse was a noun for more than 200 years before it became a verb. In the early 16th century the noun finesse was used to refer to refinement or delicacy of workmanship, structure, or texture. Soon thereafter it developed the "skillful handling of a situation" meaning most common today. The first use of the verb finesse, however, was not as a corollary of one of these meanings. Instead, its meaning had to do with cards: if you finesse in a game like bridge or whist, you withhold your highest card or trump in the hope that a lower card will take the trick because the only opposing higher card is in the hand of an opponent who has already played. The other verb meanings of finesse developed within a few decades of this one.

Examples of finesse in a Sentence

Noun

 She handled the interview questions with finesse. maneuvered his opponent into checkmate with his customary finesse

Verb

 He managed to finesse a deal through bargaining. She is just trying to finesse the issue.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

 In newsrooms, some reporters are known for their tenacious ability to root out information, others for their deft ability with delicate interviews, and still others for their finesse as writers. — Bryan Marquard, BostonGlobe.com, "Gerard O’Neill, Spotlight editor who defined investigative reporting in Boston, dies at 76," 23 Aug. 2019 Hug said McCart impressed him right away with his creativity, his finesse with food, his modern techniques, his communication skills and his openness to new ideas. — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, "New chef steers Rancho Santa Fe’s venerable Mille Fleurs in a fresh direction," 4 July 2019 Yet Mack’s freelancing success this past year hasn’t only hinged on his classical finesse. — Sarah L. Kaufman, Washington Post, "The Washington Ballet let Brooklyn Mack go. The popular dancer landed at the Metropolitan Opera House.," 18 June 2019 Libra is an air sign known for its social finesse and aesthetic sensibilities, so after a few weeks of Virgo-style organization, get ready for a ton of schmoozing. — Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, "What Your Sign's September 2018 Horoscope Predictions Mean for You," 30 Aug. 2018 While Dudamel seemed in his usual control, his enthusiasm high, his rhythmic finesse apparent from watching him on the video screens, the amplification prevented him from always making musical sense. — Mark Swed, latimes.com, "Review: The Hollywood Bowl turns up the heat for Leonard Bernstein celebration — sometimes too high," 11 July 2018 There is a lot of dull plastic that is acceptable for off-road scuffing but not for interior finesse. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Honda Passport: off-road ready, city-smart," 11 Aug. 2019 If the finesse loses, East will shift to clubs, up to dummy’s weakness. — Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, "Bridge: Aug. 9, 2019," 9 Aug. 2019 The newest of the bunch, Talento has quickly found its footing, with elevated, simple food that displays flavor and finesse. — Michael Mayo, sun-sentinel.com, "Review: Talento, Tuscan Prime, Piazza Italia. A trio of new Italian restaurants on Las Olas Boulevard," 7 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

 Programmable driving modes can finesse the power and suspension settings. — Mark Maynard, San Diego Union-Tribune, "2019 VW Arteon: a cure for the common sedan," 6 Sep. 2019 Top-down signals might contextualize or finesse what is perceived, but nothing more. — Anil K. Seth, Scientific American, "The Neuroscience of Reality," 27 Aug. 2019 This all comes at a time when the foreign affairs menu is adding hearty entrees that will take time, resources, and finesse to tackle. — Tovin Lapan, Fortune, "Trump Administration Turnover Leads to Foreign Policy Turmoil," 23 Aug. 2019 Your immediate impulse might be to finesse with dummy’s queen. — Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, "Bridge: Aug. 9, 2019," 9 Aug. 2019 Someone with rhetorical chops could finesse that evolution. — Joe Garofoli, SFChronicle.com, "Five takeaways from the Democrats’ policy brawls," 31 July 2019 Since opinion polls imply that forcing people to give up their existing plans is a big negative, Harris is well advised to finesse the argument by leaving existing plans in place. — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, "Column: Kamala Harris joins the club with a solid ‘Medicare for all’ proposal," 29 July 2019 Accompanying the duo are several of Shiro Jin's ethnically and racially diverse minions, played with tremendous energy, if not always finesse, by Badia Farha, Jasmine Forsberg, Omar Garibay, Jared Joseph and Christina Sajous. — Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Broadway Bounty Hunter': Theater Review," 24 July 2019 So the Cynic shrugged, drew trumps and led a club to finesse with dummy’s queen. — Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, "Bridge: July 7, 2019," 7 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'finesse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of finesse

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1742, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

History and Etymology for finesse

Noun

Middle English, "fineness," borrowed from Middle French, "fineness, subtlety, ruse, trick," from fin fine entry 3 + -esse, suffix forming abstract nouns from adjectives, going back to Latin -itia (with phonetic development as if from -icia) — more at -ice

Verb

derivative of finesse entry 1

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More Definitions for finesse

finesse

noun
How to pronounce finesse (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of finesse

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: skill and cleverness that is shown in the way someone deals with a situation, problem, etc.

finesse

verb

English Language Learners Definition of finesse (Entry 2 of 2)

: to handle, deal with, or do (something) in an indirect and skillful or clever way

See the full definition for finesse in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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More from Merriam-Webster on finesse

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with finesse

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