as in improving
to make better
worked on refining her backhand before the big tennis match
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Recent Examples of refining
But extracting them and refining them is the difficult part.
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John Towfighi, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
To find marginal gains in performance and stand out from an increasingly homogenous field of super shoes, brands are looking beyond refining the fundamentals.
—Cory Smith, Outside, 8 Jan. 2026
Decades ago, those refineries invested in expensive technology for refining it, because of their geographic proximity to Venezuela, Mexico and Canada — all sources of heavy crude.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 7 Jan. 2026
And never mind that Venezuelan oil isn’t suitable for refining into gasoline.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
Interior designer Kelly Neely also places more of her energy into refining her year-round decor than seasonal decor.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 5 Jan. 2026
While heavy crude oil is what is predominantly being drilled for today, its viscous consistency and high levels of metals and sulfur mean extracting and refining this product is significantly more costly than its light crude counterpart.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
Our refineries in the Gulf Coast of the United States are the best in terms of refining the heavy crude.
—ABC News, 4 Jan. 2026
Researchers say MaybeRobot's development has now stabilized, allowing the hackers to focus on refining NoRobot's stealth.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refining
Verb
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Corporate use cases include employee well-being programs aimed at reducing burnout and improving focus.—
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Lazzarini was in Turkey for talks with officials on improving humanitarian access in Gaza.—
Verb
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The administration has quietly directed diplomats to press allies on restricting inflows, enhancing deportation mechanisms, and ending policies perceived as favoring migrants over citizens.—
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While achieving a rugged look, the fiber retains the signature softness and high moisture-regulating properties characteristic of TENCEL™ Lyocell, enhancing wearer comfort.—
Cite this Entry
“Refining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refining. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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