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finesse

[fi-ness] / fɪˈnɛss /




Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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Mr. Cregger is a successor to Mr. Carpenter also, but with more comedic finesse and more cleverness, plus a facility for sinuous plotting.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

It snatches at our attention with no more finesse than a losing fighter fumbling for a weapon.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

Against Cape Verde, Spain lacked finesse in their passing.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

Lalo’s prominent violin part was played at the gala with impressive finesse by Hilary Hahn as guest.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

Ernest would inherit his father’s vigor but perhaps not all his athletic finesse.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Soft and supple, it finesses the line between elegance and heft.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 8, 2021

Black bass are good on spinners, crankbaits, and green pumpkin finesses plastic worms in 12-18’ fishing deeper docks, main lake points with near timber, drop-offs, and points.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 4, 2020

Grant attempts two tricky maneuvers with “Harpoon” and, for the most part, finesses them both.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2019

He suggested that the public had seized too narrowly on the times he deploys, say, the King Cobra Driver, rather than the moments he finesses a Titleist putter.

From New York Times ● Sep. 5, 2014

Hoagland would say that now was the time for playing certain finesses, that in the wake of the activity arose those moments that could be manipulated.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Berkshire does own about $60 billion of Apple stock, but that issue likely could be finessed to get Cook.

From Barron's ● Apr. 24, 2026

But Rutte appears to have finessed an issue that had threatened to shatter the north Atlantic alliance.

From BBC ● Jan. 21, 2026

It’s a mammalian innovation, honed and finessed in the latter stages of the Mesozoic era, the so-called Age of Reptiles.

From Slate ● Sep. 7, 2024

In bright, airy studios in London and Malibu, they finessed what would become Lipa’s most ambitious — and euphoric-sounding — record to date.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 30, 2024

UC Berkeley’s medical school would not get over its disdain for John’s studies for years, until the situation was finessed by the creation of a separate laboratory for radiation science in 1942.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Your idea is pretty special, but perhaps needs a little finessing.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026

And there are some feelings about this show’s return that no amount of script finessing can alter.

From Salon ● Sep. 10, 2026

So it’s a pleasure to report that actor-turned-filmmaker Matthew Shear, with his debut feature “Fantasy Life,” shows a facility for finessing a meal that lands the last bite.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026

With enough time and imagination, kickers and equipment managers are capable of finessing footballs in ways that make them soar.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2025

I really wish to be polite to H.E., but how can I say that I think he was justified in finessing his deficit and playing surpluses?

From Twenty-One Days in India; and, the Teapot Series by George Robert Aberigh-Mackay




Vocabulary lists containing finesse


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