Maneuver — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Meaning & Definition of Maneuver

Maneuver (noun)

a military or naval movement
an armed forces training exercise; especially, an extended and large-scale training exercise involving military and naval units separately or in combination —often used in plural
a procedure or method of working usually involving expert physical movement

Maneuver (verb)

to perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage
to make a series of changes in direction and position for a specific purpose
to use stratagems, scheme

Maneuver (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently

"maneuvered the conversation so as to avoid the touchy subject of her divorce"

similar: address, contend (with), cope (with), field, grapple (with), hack, handle, manage, manipulate, negotiate, play, swing, take, treat, come to grips with, have a grip on

related: engineer, finesse, jockey, bring off, carry off, carry out, get off, pull, command, direct, guide, steer, control, micromanage, regulate, run, react (to), respond (to)

near: botch, bungle, foozle, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mess (up), mishandle, muff, scamp
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care

"successfully maneuvered a way to get him to ask her to the dance"

similar: contrive, engineer, finagle, finesse, frame, machinate, manipulate, mastermind, negotiate, wangle

related: arrange, concert, conclude, hammer out, work out, angle (for), compass, intrigue, plot, scheme, connive, brew, concoct, cook (up), hatch, captain, command, conduct, direct, handle, manage, quarterback, run, gerrymander

near: blow, bobble, botch, bungle, butcher, flub, fumble, gum (up), louse up, mangle, mess (up), mishandle, muff

Maneuver (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

as in attack, assault

similar: assault, attack, march, offensive, bandwagon, blitz, campaign, cause, crusade, drive, juggernaut, movement, push, action, bid, enterprise, initiative, mission, project, undertaking
as in ruse, subterfuge

similar: contrivance, ruse, subterfuge, artifice, device, dodge, fetch, flimflam, gambit, gimmick, jig, juggle, knack, play, ploy, scheme, shenanigan, sleight, stratagem, trick, wile, cheating, chicanery, cozenage, craft, crookery, cunning, deception, dupery, duplicity, fakery, jugglery, legerdemain, skulduggery, swindling, trickery, bluff, end run, feint, blind, front, smoke screen

Related Entry: Maneuver (around) (verb)

Maneuver (around) is a different word from Maneuver. The synonyms below are for maneuver (around), not for maneuver.

as in fake out, pump-fake

similar: dodge, evade, sidestep, slip, deke, fake, fake out, juke, pump-fake, stutter-step

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Maneuver

The most common words with a similar meaning to Maneuver:

address, contend (with), cope (with), field, grapple (with), hack, handle, manage, manipulate, negotiate, play, swing, take, treat, contrive, engineer, finagle, finesse, frame, machinate, mastermind, wangle, come to grips with, have a grip on, assault, attack, march, offensive, bandwagon, blitz, campaign, cause, crusade, drive, juggernaut, movement, push, action, bid, enterprise

Related Words for Maneuver

jockey, bring off, carry off, carry out, get off, pull, command, direct, guide, steer, control, micromanage, regulate, run, react (to), respond (to), arrange, concert, conclude, hammer out, work out, angle (for), compass, intrigue, plot, connive, brew, concoct, cook (up), hatch

Near Antonyms of Maneuver

botch, bungle, foozle, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mess (up), mishandle, muff, scamp, blow, bobble, butcher, flub, gum (up), mangle

Word Forms of Maneuver

Inflections: maneuvered, maneuvering

Derived words: maneuverability (noun), maneuverable (adjective), maneuverer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Maneuver

French manœuvre, from Old French maneuvre work done by hand, from Medieval Latin manuopera, from manu operare to perform manual labor manure

First known use: 1759

Words & Phrases Containing Maneuver

Epley maneuver, Heimlich maneuver, Valsalva maneuver, room for maneuver

Frequently Asked Questions about Maneuver

What does "Maneuver" mean?

"Maneuver" means a military or naval movement. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a military or naval movement. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Maneuver"?

Other words for "Maneuver" include address, contend (with), cope (with), field, grapple (with), hack, handle and manage. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Maneuver" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Maneuver"?

There are 119 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Maneuver". Common alternatives include address, contend (with), cope (with), field, grapple (with), hack, handle, manage, manipulate and negotiate.

How do you use "Maneuver" in a sentence?

Examples of "Maneuver" in a sentence: "maneuvered the conversation so as to avoid the touchy subject of her divorce"; "successfully maneuvered a way to get him to ask her to the dance".

Is "Maneuver" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Maneuver" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Maneuver"?

"Maneuver" is pronounced /mə-ˈnü-vər/ and divided into syllables as ma·neu·ver.

What is the origin of the word "Maneuver"?

"Maneuver" comes from French manœuvre, from Old French maneuvre work done by hand, from Medieval Latin manuopera, from manu operare to perform manual labor manure. First known use: 1759.

What is another word for "Maneuver" meaning "to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently"?

When "Maneuver" (verb) means to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently, synonyms include address, contend (with), cope (with), field, grapple (with) and hack.