refined 1 of 2

adjective

ri-ˈfīnd How to pronounce refined (audio)
Definition of refinednext
1
as in evolved
being far along in development a refined analysis of the factors that produce economic wealth in the new global economy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pure
free from added matter refined gold

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cultured
having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living a refined couple who have hosted many elegant benefits for organizations promoting the arts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in elegant
having or showing elegance a refined woman with gracious manners

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in subtle
made or done with extreme care and accuracy the dressmaker took a set of quite refined measurements before actually starting work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in exquisite
satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness the chef's refined cuisine is one that true gourmets will appreciate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in accurate
meeting the highest standard of accuracy this is not a refined calculation of the total number of calories in the dish—just a rough estimate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

refined

2 of 2

verb

past tense of refine
as in improved
to make better worked on refining her backhand before the big tennis match

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 refined
Adjective
Such a change — which Kessler said FDA has the authority to do — would put the onus on food makers to prove refined carbs and sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup are OK for human consumption. — Isabella Cueto, STAT, 10 Aug. 2026 Growing just 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, Mountain Snow™ is a compact variety of pieris with improved heat tolerance and a refined habit. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2026
Verb
Even without such amenities, the Something’s Gotta Give star’s home feels inherently refined thanks to its black-and-white color palette—a signature of Keaton’s. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 10 Aug. 2026 The Jeep Cherokee's interior is comfy and refined for a mainstream model. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for refined
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refined
  1. evolved
  2. pure
  3. cultured
  4. elegant
  5. subtle
  6. exquisite
  7. accurate
  8. improved
Adjective
  • Dylan gives a subtle warning for Alex to stay away from Kylie, but Alex was still close to confessing his evolved feelings for her.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Chef Cristian Medrano’s menu exudes confidence in the form of evolved flavors with every dish.
    — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Definition of evolved
Adjective
  • The interactions between Bourdain and Ciro are pure movie magic and that’s due partly to the performances — both actors have to be in the Oscar race — as well as to the screenplay by Johnson, Todd Bartels, Lou Howe and Matthew Miller.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Unauthorized sequels reveal the extremes of why people make movies in the first place, from purely cynical money grabs to pure — even naive — devotion to characters and their world.
    — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of pure
Adjective
  • For instance, in the Hartford student apartments, generous-sized, bathroom vanities with double sinks are topped with cultured marble.
    — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026
  • As joint capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1873 to 1918, Budapest was one of the liveliest, most cultured, and prosperous cities in Europe; that golden era saw the construction of grand boulevards and numerous splendid buildings.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of cultured
Adjective
  • The five-night yacht voyages combine access to historic sites along the river and elegant, luxurious accommodations.
    — Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Featuring romantic bell sleeves, an elegant boat neckline, and an adjustable back cinch detail, this figure-forming top looks flattering on just about everyone.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of elegant
Adjective
  • Her lyrics, like those of many of her biggest musical influences, are dense texts, full of winking allusions and subtle references to records, bands, and albums that have shaped her own songwriting.
    — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Izquierdo recommends asking for softly disconnected layers, a blended curtain fringe, and soft, subtle texture.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of subtle
Adjective
  • Its significance stems not only from its exquisite quality and celebrated designer but also from Ogilvy's deep personal connection to Verdura, a relationship that began in her childhood.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The couture team and Pierpaolo sent the most exquisite selection of sketches to choose from.
    — Alexandra Macon, Vogue, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of exquisite
Adjective
  • The prerequisite to knowing business value is a cost model that is comprehensive, accurate and trusted.
    — Udam Dewaraja, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • My son was diagnosed with a spontaneous variant resulting in Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome, and my daughter ultimately received an accurate genetic diagnosis of Phelan-McDermid syndrome after years of unanswered questions.
    — Brad Quick, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of accurate
Verb
  • Paul Taylor Sunderland Sunderland’s pre-season has gradually improved, as defeats to Liverpool and Leeds have given way to encouraging performances, and wins, against Wrexham and Lens.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Mike Salmon's health improved so much under hospice care that he got kicked out.
    — Kim Clark, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of improved

Browse Nearby Words

refine
refined
refinement
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Refined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refined. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on refined

Nglish: Translation of refined for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All