finagle

Sometimes fe·na·gle

[fi-ney-guhl]

verb (used with object)

finagled, finagling 

1. to trick, swindle, or cheat (a person) (often followed byout of ).

   He finagled the backers out of a fortune.

2. to get or achieve (something) by guile, trickery, or manipulation.

   to finagle an assignment to the Membership Committee.

verb (used without object)

finagled, finagling 

1. to practice deception or fraud; scheme.

finagle

/ fɪˈneɪɡəl /

verb

1. (tr) to get or achieve by trickery, craftiness, or persuasion; wangle

2. to use trickery or craftiness on (a person)

Other Word Forms

• finagler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of finagle¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1925–30; finaig- (variant of fainaigue ) + -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of finagle¹

C20: probably changed from dialect fainaigue

Example Sentences

The plot finagles a way to tether them to the bedroom until they get closer to being on the same page.

From Los Angeles Times

Later, he finagles a physical comedy beat in which Gemma is delighted to realize she’s more like M3GAN than she thinks.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, the director, Dito Montiel, puts the focus on three clashing families finagling to ensure their loved ones survive a very violent New Year’s Eve.

From Los Angeles Times

His abortive proposal to finagle nominees into office without Senate confirmation alienated legislators whose help he will need over the next four years.

From Los Angeles Times

But she has an ulterior motive in shrewdly finagling her way into a job at an esteemed Chicago law firm, which is revealed by the end of the hour and sets the season in motion.

From Los Angeles Times