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.
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Recent Examples of fine-tuning
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
The county has worked for months with UCSD and Scripps researchers to absorb the protocols created by local researchers, gradually fine-tuning models so that the data that the county’s process creates matches with what has already been collected and published by the research effort.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The actors expected to spend hours fine-tuning their performances and rehearsing key scenes.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
Beyond changing her top team and fine-tuning her products, Gorin has been keen to project broader cultural messages since taking the helm.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 7 Nov. 2025
The appointment comes as Kenzo is fine-tuning its strategy, returning to the womenswear schedule and hiring design director Joshua Bullen.
—Vogue Business Team, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2025
In her books, Hoover is better known for delivering emotional catharsis than for fine-tuning the logic and realism of her plots.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
In the process, the team reviewed multiple samples, fine-tuning the bottle, the box, and overall packaging of Roué until all parties were satisfied.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Unlike Oppo’s sister company, OnePlus, the brand has kept its partnership with Hasselblad for fine-tuning its camera experience.
—PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Jan. 2026
The county has worked for months with UCSD and Scripps researchers to absorb the protocols created by local researchers, gradually fine-tuning models so that the data that the county’s process creates matches with what has already been collected and published by the research effort.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The actors expected to spend hours fine-tuning their performances and rehearsing key scenes.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
Beyond changing her top team and fine-tuning her products, Gorin has been keen to project broader cultural messages since taking the helm.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 7 Nov. 2025
The appointment comes as Kenzo is fine-tuning its strategy, returning to the womenswear schedule and hiring design director Joshua Bullen.
—Vogue Business Team, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2025
In her books, Hoover is better known for delivering emotional catharsis than for fine-tuning the logic and realism of her plots.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
In the process, the team reviewed multiple samples, fine-tuning the bottle, the box, and overall packaging of Roué until all parties were satisfied.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Unlike Oppo’s sister company, OnePlus, the brand has kept its partnership with Hasselblad for fine-tuning its camera experience.
—PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fine-tuning
Verb
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Perhaps pitchers and umpires are simply adjusting to the new technology, and by midsummer any early kinks will be forgotten.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Peanut cannot smell, but caregivers say that limitation does not appear to be stopping him from adjusting to his new surroundings.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Victor Felix, 4th Ward, suggested conducting a survey to determine the public’s attitude on regulating plastic bags.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
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The new atlas, published March 11 in the scientific journal Cell, details the ways in which genome structure, gene activity and methylation (a biochemical mechanism for regulating gene expression) change across eight brain regions and 36 brain cell types.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The first generation of parents to have resorted, at least occasionally, to mollifying their children by putting digital screens in their hands has now seen those kids grow up.—
Jeannie Suk Gersen,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2026
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Wainwright alleges that the company started putting profits over people, which is when problems began to escalate.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The left-hander gave up eight runs — matching his career high — on 10 hits and two walks.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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This matching linen-blend set makes getting dressed a breeze.—
Aashna Gheewalla,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The film shifts the focus from traditional narratives of policy and victimhood to the everyday experiences of individuals adapting to a life of constant threat, raising critical questions about whether these safety rituals signify true preparedness or a surrender to violence.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
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Investments in modernized facilities, advanced textile research for uniforms, redesigned Navy hospitality and enhanced personal telecommunications reflect how our command is adapting to the Navy’s changing demands.—
Robert J Bianchi,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fine-tuning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fine-tuning. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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