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Finesse vs Facile - What's the difference?

finesse | facile |

As a noun finesse

is finesse.

As an adjective facile is

easy, now especially in a disparaging sense; contemptibly easy.

finesse

English

Noun

  • (uncountable) The property of having grace, elegance, skill, or balance.
  • (uncountable) Skill in handling of a situation.
  • (countable) An adroit maneuver.
  • (countable, bridge) A technique which allows one to promote tricks based on a favorable position of one or more cards in the hands of the opponent.
  • Verb

    (finess)
  • (ambitransitive, card games) To play (a card) as a finesse (see noun sense above).
  • To handle or manage carefully or skillfully.
  • To evade.
  • facile

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Easy, now especially in a disparaging sense; contemptibly easy.
  • * , vol.I, New York, 2001, p.243:
  • as he that is benumbed with cold sits shaking, that might relieve himself with a little exercise or stirring, do they complain, but will not use the facile and ready means to do themselves good […].
  • His facile disposition made him many friends.
  • Effortless, fluent (of work, abilities etc.).
  • * 1932 , (Duff Cooper), Talleyrand , Folio Society 2010, p. 54:
  • we can learn the impression that he made upon a stranger and a foreigner at this period, thanks to the facile pen of Fannu Burney.
  • * 1974 , (Graham Greene), (The Honorary Consul) , Pocket Books, New York, p.54:
  • "Discipline," Jorge Julio Saavedra was repeating, "is more necessary to me than to other more facile writers.
  • * 1990 , (Peter Hopkirk), The Great Game , Folio Society 2010, p. 372:
  • A facile and persuasive writer, he also turned out countless newspaper articles on Russian aims in Central Asia and how best these could be thwarted.
  • Lazy, simplistic (especially of explanations, discussions etc.).
  • * 2012 , (Chris Huhne), The Guardian , 3 May 2012:
  • There is a facile view that our green commitments – to tackling climate change, avoiding air and water pollution, protecting natural habitats – are an obstacle to growth. The message of the commodity markets is surely different.
  • (chemistry) Of a reaction or other process, taking place readily.
  • Decarboxylation of beta-keto acids is facile ...

    Synonyms

    * (skillful) See also