as in adjusting
to make small changes to (something) in order to improve the way it works or to make it exactly right
fine-tune a TV set fine-tune the temperature of the room They're fine-tuning interest rates to achieve economic growth without inflation.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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-tuning
Other ESPNers optimize each clip, fine-tuning titles, descriptions and thumbnails, which themselves have the capability to go viral.
—
Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 15 May 2026
For Snider, FilmNation was a chance to get back in the game of fine-tuning scripts and helping directors hone their work.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 12 May 2026
In her seven months as president of Beast Industry Studios, Henson has noticed Donaldson growing more patient and fine-tuning his sense of when employees need encouragement.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 6 May 2026
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s tsunami warning program has spent decades fine-tuning rapid message dissemination.
—Ezgi Karasözen, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
By fine-tuning the models, developers could score a sustainability win.
—Adam Stone, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2026
To keep the parts from breaking, researchers are fine-tuning the metal to withstand constant stretching and squeezing.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
And while fine-tuning the setlist, perfecting choreography and adding final touches to her outfits are must-dos before the concert series kicks off in June, Duff tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview that one of her most important pre-tour preparations is making sure her voice is at its best.
—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
Basham said when the city was fine-tuning its policy around electric bike and scooter use, there was a conscious effort to not exclude people who depend on those kinds of devices for recreational enjoyment.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Jan. 2026
Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 15 May 2026
For Snider, FilmNation was a chance to get back in the game of fine-tuning scripts and helping directors hone their work.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 12 May 2026
In her seven months as president of Beast Industry Studios, Henson has noticed Donaldson growing more patient and fine-tuning his sense of when employees need encouragement.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 6 May 2026
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s tsunami warning program has spent decades fine-tuning rapid message dissemination.
—Ezgi Karasözen, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
By fine-tuning the models, developers could score a sustainability win.
—Adam Stone, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2026
To keep the parts from breaking, researchers are fine-tuning the metal to withstand constant stretching and squeezing.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
And while fine-tuning the setlist, perfecting choreography and adding final touches to her outfits are must-dos before the concert series kicks off in June, Duff tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview that one of her most important pre-tour preparations is making sure her voice is at its best.
—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
Basham said when the city was fine-tuning its policy around electric bike and scooter use, there was a conscious effort to not exclude people who depend on those kinds of devices for recreational enjoyment.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fine-tuning
Verb
-
Minutes before the opening of his latest show, artist Gary Baseman, dressed as a retro diner cook, in a red-orange jumpsuit, white apron and hat, paced around Johnie’s Coffee Shop, moving art frames from one counter to another and adjusting the position of a cartoon cat plush toy.—
Iris Kwok
May 12,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Squatting, her eyes adjusting to the dim light, hoping for groggy chickens, their eyes shut and their beaks tucked into the fluff on their necks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Makary, a surgical oncologist known for criticizing the government’s handling of the Covid pandemic, served as head of the agency responsible for regulating food, drugs and medical devices for more than a year.—
Annika Kim Constantino,Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
-
All this while the federal government’s main tool for regulating medical software, the Food and Drug Administration’s device-approval process, is structurally unfit for regulating autonomous clinical AI.—
Alon Bergman,
STAT,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Certain federal debts can result in a portion of your Social Security check being garnished, ultimately putting your financial stability at risk in retirement.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
-
Louisa, all the producers and the writers are putting little inklings that are showing these sprinkles of just who John Tucker is that are going to snowball into things.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
That kept him from matching his highest score in the PGA Championship.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
In Anthropic’s view, compute access remains the biggest barrier preventing Chinese firms from fully matching top American AI labs.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
After a couple of years, Shapiro-Barnum met with broadcasters and streamers about adapting the show.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
-
EBay has also been trying to cut back while adapting to changes in the ways people shop.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fine-tuning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fine-tuning. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
