refined

adjective

re·​fined ri-ˈfīnd 

1

: free from impurities

2

: fastidious, cultivated

3

: precise, exact

a refined test for radioactivity

Synonyms of refined

• evolved
• improved
• advanced
• higher
• developed

Examples of refined in a Sentence

She has become more refined in her painting technique.

He has very refined manners.

refined and elegant works of art

Recent Examples on the Web

Featuring even more twisted, faint-worthy kills (the two-for-one shower scene has forever altered our brain chemistry), Terrifier 3 jacks up the gorefest with great practical effects and a refined cinematic look that still holds tight to its gritty grindhouse core. —Huntley Woods, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Dec. 2025

In the Evening With their sweet flavor and chewy texture, dates are a perfect evening snack to satisfy post-dinner dessert cravings and a healthier alternative to refined sugar options, like cookies or brownies. —Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 18 Dec. 2025

That structure reflects a broader fragrance trend, which Matthieu Befve, head of fine fragrance for North America at Givaudan, describes as the rise of premium ingredients like amber in higher concentrations to create lasting, refined scents. —Malia Griggs, Glamour, 18 Dec. 2025

Millions remember her structured and refined Inaugural Day outfit for the accessory that topped off the look — a navy and white hat that Eric Javits designed. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 17 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for refined

• countersigned
• disinclined
• humankind
• interlined
• intertwined
• mastermind
• misaligned
• nonaligned
• predefined
• realigned
• reassigned
• recombined

Kids Definition

refined

adjective

re·​fined

ri-ˈfīnd

1

: socially well-trained : well-bred, cultivated

very refined manners

2

: freed from impurities : pure

refined sugar

3

: carried to a fine point : subtle

refined measurements