Finesse vs. grace: what’s the difference?
The short answer
Finesse often implies skillful handling or maneuvering in a complex situation, while grace usually refers to smooth, elegant movement or expression. Grace can also have a religious or moral connotation of divine favor, which finesse does not.
What they have in common
Both finesse and grace can describe a quality of smoothness and elegance in the way someone performs an action.
Examples
finesse
- She handled the negotiation with great finesse.
- The politician navigated the crisis with remarkable finesse.
- He played the piano piece with such finesse that the audience was captivated.
grace
- She moved with the grace of a ballet dancer.
- His speech was delivered with great grace and humility.
- The bird soared into the sky with effortless grace.
Which one is more common?
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