finger-tight
No wrench needed
Finger-tight describes something tightened only by hand, without tools—snug enough to hold but not fully secured.
The term appears in mechanical contexts where overtightening could cause damage or where easy removal is intended: Just get the bolts finger-tight for now; we'll torque them later.
A finger-tight seal may need final tightening with a wrench.
Comfortably close-fitting
- threadedPassed through an opening
- securedMade fast or obtained
- boltThreaded rod for nuts
- nutHard-shelled seed
screw · fitting · coupling · flange · clamp · connector · cap · lid
Made less tight
- preliminaryBefore the main part
- temporaryLimited in duration
- repositionableAble to be moved again
- removableCapable of being detached
retighten · snugged · seated · aligned · incremental · fine-tuning · calibration · setting
snug
Comfortably close-fitting
nut · screw · fitting · coupling · flange · clamp · connector · cap · lid · valve
loosened
Made less tight
- preliminaryBefore the main part
- temporaryLimited in duration
- repositionableAble to be moved again
removable · retighten · snugged · seated · aligned · incremental · fine-tuning · calibration · setting · initial
minimal
Smallest amount needed
- gentleSoft and kind
- lightVisible electromagnetic radiation
- controlledKept within limits
specified · manual · careful · precise · consistent · measured · threshold · baseline
finger-tightloose
Not firmly secured
unfastened · backed off · unseated · disengaged · stripped
finger-tightovertightened
Fastened beyond proper tension
seized · locked down · loose
finger, tight, fingers, fingered, fingering, fingerless, fingerlike, fingertip, tighter