How to use finesse in a sentence

19 example sentences · noun, verb

Finesse means a skill in the handling or manipulation of a situation. Example: “Here we are going to examine finesses from a negative standpoint.”

Examples of finesse by meaning

nounIn bridge, whist, etc.: a technique which allows one to win a trick, usually by playing a card when it is thought that...

Here we are going to examine finesses from a negative standpoint.2013 October 22, Joe Blatnick, “Finesses (One More Time)”, in Bridge: A Thinker’s Game: How You Think is More Important than What and...

verbTo evade (a problem, situation, etc.) by using some clever argument or stratagem.

The founders deliberately finessed other issues concerning religion and the relationship between church and state to ensure the ratification of the Constitution.2013, James F[ranklin] Harris, “The Supreme Court”, in The Serpentine Wall: The Winding Boundary between Church and State in the United...

verbTo handle or manage carefully or skilfully; to manipulate in a crafty way.

So with valuable extra time to finesse its passenger handling and communications strategies, NR set its sights on rescheduling the work to begin this December instead.2020 September 23, Paul Stephen, “East Coast upgrade: changes to schedule... but on schedule”, in Rail, page 30

verbTo obtain something from someone through trickery or manipulation.

I was tryin'a finesse you outta them drawers, and you finessed a nigga out his heart," he said with a chuckle, "But that's cool.2020, Racquel Williams, Finessed a Dope Boy's Heart

More sentences with finesse

Elling has proved his finesse as a Hartman-like melodist, on multiple albums and many more stages.2009 January 24, Nate Chinen, “Playfully Laying Claim to Songs of Two Jazz Greats”, in New York Times. From the entry melodist
It's amazing—what he lacks in finesse he makes up for in sheer willingness to dorkify himself.2009, Micol Ostow, David Ostow, So Punk Rock: And Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother, page 97. From the entry dorkify
There is no sound of megadollar derivatives transactions being finessed by conference call.2008 February 29, Robin Finn, “Letting His Racing Colors Show”, in New York Times. From the entry megadollar
His prosodiac finesse in succeeding to avoid even شکست روا is added to it.1975, Shahab Sarmadee, “Musical Genius of Amir Khusrau”, in Amir Khusrau: Memorial Volume, New Delhi: Publications Division, […], →OCLC…. From the entry prosodiac
It’s sometimes frustrating, especially when the solo part in “Get Back” is screaming for some impromptu finesse, but it’s mostly fair.2026 March 29, Matt Mitchell, “In LA, Paul McCartney is king”, in AV Club, archived from the original on 30 Mar 2026. From the entry solo
He’s a finesse player but he can play power forward.2017 February 18, Mike Gantner, “Durant a big admirer of DeRozan and his work ethic”, in Toronto Sun. From the entry j
Marino finesses this potentially icky riff: “I need your explosions.2014 October 13, Mike Hale, “At Ringside for a Match of Wits”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN…. From the entry hey-o
Owner is Joan Murillo, an unashamed vinophile who has decent wines from 2€ a glass to more finessed wines for around 4€.2011, Frank Camorra, Richard Cornish, “Day Trips from Barcelona”, in Movida’s Guide to Barcelona, The Miegunyah Press, →ISBN, page 266…. From the entry vinophile
Even in the most basic St.-Émilions the ripe, spicy-juiciness of the Merlot grape should be supported by the firmness and finesse of the Cabernet Franc.2007, Tom Stevenson, The Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia, 4th edition, Dorling Kindersley, →ISBN, page 110. From the entry fruitcakey
All the new interns had heard of his operative speed, his finesse under the attending's glare, and his memorization of the current surgical literature.2002, Harry Lee Kraus, Could I Have This Dance?, page 45. From the entry attending
It thought it had so finessed the problem of New Caledonia that the independence conflict there would not betangle next year's parliamentary election in France.1985, The Economist, volume 296, page 34. From the entry betangle
Tuchel had demanded energy, a finessing of the connections between his players, a reinforcement of the identity he has wanted to see emerge out of the autumn programme.2025 November 13, David Hytner, “Saka and Eze strikes sink Serbia as England maintain perfect World Cup qualifying record”, in The Guardian. From the entry reinforcement
Riyad Mahrez flighted the free-kick that followed to the far post and Morgan, with not much finesse but plenty of desire, bundled the ball over the line.2017 March 14, Stuart James, “Leicester stun Sevilla to reach last eight after Kasper Schmeichel save”, in the Guardian. From the entry flight
With bouncerly finesse, Frank forklifted his arms under Gerald's & plucked him off his stool, dragging him towards the back & the source of that incessant voice.2009, Garry Thomas Morse, Death in Vancouver, page 49. From the entry forklift
"I swear I've watched as much MTV Base an Juggy D videos as they have, but I still can't attain the right level a rudeboy finesse," bemoans Jas.2007, Dohra Ahmad, Rotten English: A Literary Anthology. From the entry rudeboy

Meaning of finesse

noun A skill in the handling or manipulation of a situation.
noun The property of having elegance, grace, refinement, or skill.
noun An adroit maneuver.

Full definition of finesse

Questions about finesse in a sentence

How do you use finesse in a sentence?: Finesse is used as a noun and verb. For example: “Here we are going to examine finesses from a negative standpoint.”
What is a short sentence with finesse?: “He’s a finesse player but he can play power forward.”
What does finesse mean?: Finesse means a skill in the handling or manipulation of a situation.

Adapted from Wiktionary: finesse (page history and authors) and the entries each sentence comes from. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws chose the sentences, left out offensive ones and quotations older than 1900, and marked the word in each. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Cite this page: “How to use finesse in a sentence.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/sentences/finesse. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.