fine 1 of 5

adjective

ˈfīn How to pronounce fine (audio)
Definition of finenext
1
as in dusty
consisting of very small particles the fine sand found on the island's beaches

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2
as in subtle
made or done with extreme care and accuracy the fine distinction between bravery and recklessness

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3
as in thin
being of less than usual width use a fine line for the outline of the facial features you intend to carve into the pumpkin

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4
as in OK
being to one's liking that arrangement is fine with me

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5
as in pure
free from added matter that silver is .9600 fine

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6
as in accurate
meeting the highest standard of accuracy making the final fine adjustments on the car's GPS

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7
as in adequate
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards the wine steward declared that the complaint of corkiness was unjustified and that the wine was fine

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8
as in small
of a size that is less than average read the fine print

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9
as in excellent
of the very best kind a fine performance of a classic ballet

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10
as in elegant
having qualities that appeal to a refined taste savored every morsel of the restaurant's fine cuisine

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11
as in sensitive
able to sense slight impressions or differences hearing so fine that it can seemingly hear the tiniest twig snap

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12
as in handsome
having or showing elegance a fine old structure in the city's historic district

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fine

2 of 5

noun

as in penalty
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment a $50 fine for speeding

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fine

3 of 5

verb (1)

as in to impose
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty the police will fine you for driving with one headlight out

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fine

4 of 5

verb (2)

as in to filter
to remove usually visible impurities from the use of egg shells to fine wine

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fine

5 of 5

adverb

as in good
in a satisfactory way you did just fine on the stress test

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fine
Adjective
Among them are two scholastic academies, a regional gifted center, fine and performing arts schools, one language academy and two classical schools. — Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Unsung hero As the Dolphins have had some fine moments in run defense in the first quarter of the season, Hafley touted the play of second-year defensive tackle Jordan Phillips. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
Doing so is copyright infringement, and photography companies could choose to pursue legal action, hitting parents with fines that could run into hundreds of pounds. — Rebekah Evans, TheWeek, 8 Oct. 2026 Leaking a county-level grand jury report could constitute a first-degree misdemeanor in Florida, which is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine. — Liv Caputo, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
In his appeal, Juszczyk also argued that fining players for pretending to drink beer was hypocritical given the NFL’s beer sponsorships. — Rick Maese, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026 The Storm was forced to acknowledge the incident and apologized, before the WNBA later fined Keaton and suspended her from Seattle’s next five home games. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Adverb
The defense, when all was said and done, worked out fine Sunday, though. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026 So far, Portugal seems to be doing fine without Ronaldo, with Ramos scoring again Thursday during a 4-2 win over Denmark. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fine
  1. dusty
  2. subtle
  3. thin
  4. OK
  5. pure
  6. accurate
  7. adequate
  8. small
Adjective
  • Most mega-bestsellers of eras past are forgotten, and even the award winners that make their way into academic syllabi fade into dusty bibliography.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
  • This promo includes the very plush Russell storage bed in a bewitching dusty lilac velvet.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of dusty
Adjective
  • Poindexter featured his three daughters in his first campaign advertisement for the general election, taking a subtle dig at Miller.
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Later still, we are introduced to Satoko Iijima (Ishida), who again shares many defining features with her two namesakes, albeit with just enough subtle differences to keep the audience on the back foot.
    — James Marsh, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of subtle
Adjective
  • BioNxt Solutions is developing a sublingual semaglutide thin-film platform and reported moving its program into active pharmaceutical development in 2026.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The launch shows that Innovera can be cut into thin strips and woven without immediately losing its structure.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • People are not okay with further cuts to school staff, afterschool programs and essential services.
    — Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Today’s program is explicitly for women who have an impending release date, are okay with speaking to the press, and willing to be on camera for Beauty Beyond Bars’ and Allure’s social channels.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of OK
Adjective
  • Sometimes, maybe once in every eight plays, the track scans as pure camp to me.
    — Shaad D’Souza, Pitchfork, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Reactions, however, ranged from pure fascination and respect for his 12-year project to critics questioning whether Tomlin, who parted ways with the Steelers in January of this year, had devoted too much time to his virtual city.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of pure
Adjective
  • Moreover, the company says automatic workout recognition is twice as accurate as before, with 50% fewer missed activities.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Google says the new model means auto activity tracking is twice as accurate and supports over 100 activities.
    — Victoria Song, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of accurate
Adjective
  • Flagship neoclouds If the hyperscalers were adequate, neoclouds wouldn't be proliferating.
    — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Many have taken to the streets in towns and neighborhoods to protest the worsening situation, with roadblocks, tire-burning and residents holding up signs criticizing the government for not providing adequate solutions.
    — Catherine Ellis, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of adequate
Adjective
  • There’s also a small but well-equipped 24-hour gym, a sauna, steam rooms, and a Jacuzzi area with daybeds.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
  • In a small Idaho town, a young mother is accused of killing her young twins.
    — Glenn Thrush Eric Schmitt Liam Stack Tim Balk, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of small

Phrases Containing fine

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finds out
fine
fined
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Cite this Entry

“Fine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fine. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fine

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fine

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