1
as in precious
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2
as in exaggerated
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of overrefined
Jenkins’s overrefined sense of black history — a pageant of fabulous nightmares — is the real extravagance in The Underground Railroad.
—
Armond White, National Review, 12 May 2021
Armond White, National Review, 12 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overrefined
Adjective
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That simple act of locking eyes with an approaching gull can buy your lunch precious seconds — or discourage the bird from trying altogether.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
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These precious experiences have given Jeremy a profound appreciation for Indigenous ways of knowing.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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That term encompasses exaggerated, subjective assertions of optimism that are not intended to be taken as factual, are too general to cause a reasonable investor to rely upon them and are not actionable in securities law.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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But reports of the death of old-fashioned books were greatly exaggerated.—
Matt Leclercq,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.—
Noah Alcala Bach,
San Antonio Express-News,
1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Marvin’s a cute little mushroom living in a cozy home beneath a mighty cedar tree.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
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Dry off and look cute at the same time with Katydid beach or gym towels.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Garden centers aren't giving a refund for a dying or dead plant but rather a discount on a new purchase.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
17 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The video continues to make its rounds online, with viewers debating whether the photographer’s approach was overly theatrical, or a uniquely beautiful take on documenting a wedding.—
Claire Dodds,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Her trademark covers live stage performances, theatrical productions and TV, among other things.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In Osamu Dazai’s The Setting Sun, Kazuko despairs of the pain that her brother Naoji’s drug addiction and degenerate behavior have caused the family.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
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The latest film from Polish filmmaker Jan Komasa follows a 19-year-old degenerate raver from London who, in the last gasp of an all-time bender, is kidnapped by Stephen Graham and chained up in the basement of a posh estate.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The potential ground operation would reportedly fall short of a full-scale invasion but could involve raids by a mixture of Special Operations forces and conventional infantry troops, the officials were quoted as saying.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
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But its conventional naval power looks severely degraded, while Western allies retain strong minesweeping capabilities that could be deployed to keep global trade flowing.—
Newsweek Editors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overrefined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overrefined. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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