handle 1 of 2

verb

Definition of handlenext
1
as in to manage
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently as host of a live TV talk show, she must handle any situation that comes up

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to treat
to behave toward in a stated way handles all requests professionally, even when customers are rude

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to operate
to control the mechanical operation of learned how to handle basic woodworking power tools

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to supervise
to look after and make decisions about she takes care of the flower beds, and he handles all the lawn care

Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to tolerate
to put up with (something painful or difficult) I can't handle much more of this foul weather

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to oversee
to be in charge of I'll be handling the team's workouts while the leader is on vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

handle

2 of 2

noun

ˈhan-dᵊl How to pronounce handle (audio)
1
as in grip
a part by which an implement is held was given a set a steak knives with wooden handles

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in name
a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known likes to go by the handle "Champ"

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in nickname
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual since it seemed decreed that every new firefighter have a handle, his was soon "Hulk"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of handle
Verb
The parties should agree, at minimum, on the format and objectives of the talks, the mediators’ roles, the status of representatives, how the agenda is set, how decisions are reached, and how confidentiality and public communications are handled. — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026 How Wells Fargo and Truist handle work-from-home Bank of America is not the only local financial institution tightening its office attendance requirements. — Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
The on-track wagering handle has plunged even more drastically. — Stephen J. K. Walters, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026 Slot machines pay out unpredictably, and that is exactly what keeps people pulling the handle, because the next spin might be the one. — Daniel Schlaepfer, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for handle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handle
  1. manage
  2. treat
  3. operate
  4. supervise
  5. tolerate
  6. oversee
  7. grip
  8. name
Verb
  • Carrick named an unchanged line-up in four of his 17 Premier League games last season — a feat Amorim managed just once.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Orlando’s best chance of the first half came in the 31st minute when Simone Jackson hit the crossbar, but the Pride managed little else going forward and went into the break trailing.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of manage
Verb
  • The Community Shield is often treated as little more than the traditional curtain-raiser to a new Premier League season.
    — Dean Jones, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Nvidia's new funding conduit aims to treat compute infrastructure as an investable asset class.
    — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of treat
Verb
  • Firestar operated a large factory inside Surat’s Special Economic Zone, a duty-free enclave that allowed the company to cut, polish and manufacture jewelry for export markets.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Oznur Bell One of the journey’s guides, who was operating the vessel, spotted the hippo and slowed the boat in an attempt not to disturb it, Oznur said.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of operate
Verb
  • Nick Martin, a DOT supervising engineer and project manager for the bridge rehab, answered that the choices aren’t that simple.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Becoming a therapist requires years of education, supervised practice, licensing examinations and often substantial student debt.
    — Wayne Lonstein, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of supervise
Verb
  • Stern’s decisive response to the Malice at the Palace – the suspensions of the players as well as the punishments meted out to the fans – sent a clear message that such behavior would not be tolerated.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • People with digestive conditions that require a temporary low-fiber diet during flare-ups may also need to limit unhulled sesame seeds, since their fiber-rich outer hull can be difficult to tolerate.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of tolerate
Verb
  • Hines, 66, appealed unsuccessfully to the governor and the courts, saying that the doctor who oversaw the May execution was unqualified and likely to botch his execution as well.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The new owners took over the keys to a tired and decaying club in the spring and have since overseen a summer renovation that has stretched from assembling a new first-team squad to restoring hot water to Hillsborough.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of oversee
Noun
  • What to read next To have any realistic chance of seeing the northern lights during the eclipse, Earth would need to be in the grip of a severe geomagnetic storm.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Invisasox are made with a revolutionary gel heel grip mesh design that keeps the sock on better than any other no show sock -- guaranteed to stay on.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of grip
Noun
  • On Wednesday, Bartko and about 100 other protesters gathered by the river, whose route gives the area its name and which attracts many of the half-million or so annual visitors to the national park.
    — Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Hudson-Smith went into the stand and up the stairs to pose next to his name, draped in the British flag, but was surrounded by too many empty seats.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of name

Phrases Containing handle

Browse Nearby Words

handkerchiefs
handle
handleable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Handle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handle. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on handle

Nglish: Translation of handle for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All