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

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz is choking off supplies of both crude and refined products like jet fuel, further driving up the price. —Michele Luhn, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026

Minimalist Leather Loafers Chalk it up to the Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy effect, but refined minimalism is definitely having a moment. —Jordan Julian, InStyle, 9 Apr. 2026

This doesn’t mean gem nails have to be childlike or loud, though; today’s styles feature daintier stones that shine brightly and are more refined than bulky, costume gems. —Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 8 Apr. 2026

Around 175 million barrels of crude and refined products are currently loaded onto 187 tankers in the Gulf, according to Kpler data—which could now start to move, depending on what happens in the strait. —Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2026

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