1
as in evolved
being far along in development
a refined analysis of the factors that produce economic wealth in the new global economy
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Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pure
free from added matter
refined gold
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3
as in cultured
having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living
a refined couple who have hosted many elegant benefits for organizations promoting the arts
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4
as in elegant
having or showing elegance
a refined woman with gracious manners
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5
as in subtle
made or done with extreme care and accuracy
the dressmaker took a set of quite refined measurements before actually starting work
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6
as in exquisite
satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness
the chef's refined cuisine is one that true gourmets will appreciate
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7
as in accurate
meeting the highest standard of accuracy
this is not a refined calculation of the total number of calories in the dish—just a rough estimate
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as in improved
to make better
worked on refining her backhand before the big tennis match
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refined
Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Jan. 2026
Why Atlas stood out at CES 2026 CNET pointed to Atlas’ humanlike walking ability and refined industrial design as key reasons for the award.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
Connor Giffin, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Nov. 2025
His postgraduate fellowship further refined his approach.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refined
Adjective
Seven Sundays is another favorite, offering a few different cereal product lines, including Little Crispies and the more protein-forward Sunflower Cereal and Oat Protein Cereals, all of which are sweetened with refined sugar-free options like maple syrup, dates, or wildflower honey.
—Verb
Jet fuels and other petroleum products are refined from crude oil, and contain chemicals that are toxic to humans when inhaled.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for refined
Adjective
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While modern tomatoes have evolved to no longer produce the eggplant alkaloids, those on the western Galápagos Islands had seemingly re-evolved, or de-evolved, to contain this ancestral gene.—
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Fire offered an evolved take on their post-hardcore calling card, but Water was largely electronic, resulting in a haunting yet serene setting.—
Adjective
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Just the pure joy of motion and music.—
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That verisimilitude functioned as a solvent, lending credibility and urgency to elements of the show that might otherwise register as pure cheese; the medical realism and sentimental flourishes were mutually reinforcing.—
Adjective
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Human adipose tissue is processed into small pellets and cultured in suspension, allowing cells to reorganize and differentiate without extensive manipulation.—
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The daughter of an engineer, she was raised in a cultured bourgeois household in the affluent 16th arrondissement and studied ballet at the Conservatoire de Paris.—
Adjective
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Her hairstylist gave tendril lovers an idea for a whole new way to wear one, tucking Grande's bangs behind a section of hair left loose not from her hairline but a bit farther back—still elegant, but a bit more playful and creative.—
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Lopez accessorized with diamond earrings and wore her hair in an elegant updo.—
Adjective
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With her signature long waves gathered into a subtle bun at the nape of her neck, this style puts the focus on the sculptural wave framing Seyfried's face opposite a deep side part.—
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Grande wore a glossy pink shade on her lips, sculpted cheeks with subtle shimmer, and long lashes.—
Adjective
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The perfect balance for a sport that jostles between exquisite and excruciating.—
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As with Sátántangó, Tarr devised exquisite tracking shots that seemed to float through János’ unhappy universe, delivering one knockout image after another.—
Adjective
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Mostly, though, Boland strangles batters with his suffocating and deadly-accurate line and length.—
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Comedians can sometimes be eerily accurate in the way their jokes predict the future.—
Verb
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Better yet, my hair-shedding has greatly improved.—
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Louisville improved to 6-0 all-time in Coral Gables, and the eight-game winning streak is the Cardinals' longest since a 15-game streak during the 2021-22 season.—
Cite this Entry
“Refined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refined. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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