finessed
Navigated with subtlety
Finessed is the past tense of finesse, meaning to handle something with delicate skill or subtle maneuvering.
You finesse a difficult situation by navigating it deftly: She finessed her way past the security guard.
In card games, to finesse is to attempt winning a trick with a lower card when a higher one might take it.
The word often implies cleverness or slight manipulation: He finessed the contract terms to his advantage.
Pleased or bewitched
- coaxedPersuaded through gentle urging
- cajoledPersuaded through flattery
- sweet-talkedPersuaded through flattery
- smooth-talkedPersuaded through flattery
wheedled · maneuvered · negotiated · brokered · wrangled · finagled · handled · managed
Cleverly deceptive
- slyCleverly deceptive
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- shrewdPractically clever, perceptive
- wilySkilled at deception
artful · scheming · manipulative · calculating · strategic · cagey · foxy · clever
Skillful and quick
- adroitMentally or physically nimble
- dexterousPhysically skilled, agile
- nimbleQuick and light-moving
- skillfulHaving learned expertise
adept · expert · precise · masterful · practiced · proficient · slick · neat
Having fine distinctions
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
- tactfulSocially sensitive and careful
- diplomaticTactful and sensitive
gentle · measured · calibrated · careful · judicious · discreet · soft · restrained
charmed
Pleased or bewitched
- coaxedPersuaded through gentle urging
- cajoledPersuaded through flattery
- sweet-talkedPersuaded through flattery
smooth-talked · wheedled · maneuvered · negotiated · brokered · wrangled · finagled · handled · managed · worked
crafty
Cleverly deceptive
wily · artful · scheming · manipulative · calculating · strategic · cagey · foxy · clever · sharp
deft
Skillful and quick
skillful · adept · expert · precise · masterful · practiced · proficient · slick · neat · agile
nuanced
Having fine distinctions
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
- tactfulSocially sensitive and careful
diplomatic · gentle · measured · calibrated · careful · judicious · discreet · soft · restrained · graceful
- dupeddeceived, tricked, fooled, conned, swindled
- worldlyworldly, cosmopolitan, globe-trotter, globetrotter, world traveler
finessedbrute-forced
Solved by exhaustive attempts
forced · bulldozed · muscled · strong-armed · bludgeoned
finessedbungled
Performed ineptly, failed
botched · fumbled · butchered · mangled · mishandled
finessedoverpowered
Excessively dominant or conquered
overwhelmed · battered · pounded · labored · struggled
- lacking finesse
- without finesse
- finesse shotSkill-based gentle stroke