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
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
And the Cisco compiler takes care of technical networking details like optimizing the connections between quantum processors and fine-tuning error correction strategies.
—Margo Anderson, IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2025
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
And the Cisco compiler takes care of technical networking details like optimizing the connections between quantum processors and fine-tuning error correction strategies.
—Margo Anderson, IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fine-tuning
Verb
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Despite adjusting the practice structure, simplifying the call sheets, and even moving Whitt to the sideline, the Commanders found no solutions.—
Nicki Jhabvala,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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The team focused on modifying the electrode surface rather than repeatedly adjusting electrolyte formulations.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Silk is known to have great temperature-regulating qualities, so these will lock in the heat during the winter and keep you cool in the summer.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
10 Jan. 2026
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That’s because our oceans play a key role in regulating the impact of global carbon emissions in our atmosphere—absorbing about 90% of the excess heat from planetary warming trapped by greenhouse gases over the past century.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Lance Strait is one of hundreds of people whose car was damaged after putting gas at a King Soopers gas station in Parker earlier this week.—
Michael Abeyta,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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Or, Allen could solidify his elite status by putting the team on his back much the same way that Jags fan did with Lawrence at a bar.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There to support husband George, who is nominated for Best Male Actor, Motion Picture, Musical/Comedy at the 2026 ceremony for his performance in Jay Kelly, Amal added diamond drop earrings, a matching diamond bracelet, and a neat box clutch in that same traffic-stopping shade of red.—
Kerry McDermott,
Vogue,
12 Jan. 2026
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Meanwhile, Bell opted for a two piece moment — pairing a strapless rose gold beaded Ashi Studio bustier with a matching floor-length skirt.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Artist and writer Kevin Mellon is adapting the graphic novel from the feature script written by Peykoff and the Neese Brothers, who are known as co-executive producers of The Umbrella Academy.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
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The book has recently been reissued at what feels like a propitious moment, when modern treatments of Greek myth proliferate, many of them adapting stories about destiny and order for a chaotic and individualistic time.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fine-tuning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fine-tuning. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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