Direct
Direct verb - To look after and make decisions about.
Usage example: the music teacher directs both the student orchestra and the marching band
Handle is a synonym for direct in control topic. In some cases you can use "Handle" instead a verb "Direct", when it comes to topics like manage, administer.
Handle
Handle verb - To deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently.
Usage example: as host of a live TV talk show, she must handle any situation that comes up
Direct is a synonym for handle in control topic. Sometimes you can use "Direct" instead a verb "Handle", if it concerns topics such as manage, administer.
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
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In killing Daisy, Iosef replaced the dog as something John could handle and direct his attention towards in order to express his grief.
Source: Film / John Wick - Unfortunately, the only direct control you have is over your stance, using highly sensitive controls, and getting a handle on how to influence the direction of the ball is a hair-pulling exercise especially if you know nothing about how to hit a ball with a bat in real life.
Source: That One Sidequest -
He almost always appears to help other heroes deal with a magical menace that they can't handle alone- though his help would always be minimal, only taking a direct hand when absolutely needed.
Cite this Source
Handle and Direct. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/direct/handle
Direct & Handle. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/direct/handle>.
Handle or Direct. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/direct/handle.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "direct" and "handle" have occurred on timeline