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

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2
as in pure
free from added matter refined gold

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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

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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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
Meanwhile, colder temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere will also create higher demand for refined distillate fuels — the energy category that includes diesel. — Rob Wile, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026 Research suggests that replacing refined carbohydrates with whole grains may help reduce inflammation. — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
The rest of Pugh's look is both relaxed and refined, just like her hair. — Marci Robin, Allure, 8 Sep. 2026 Under tolling agreements, third parties deliver raw black mass to the site to be refined for a processing fee. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 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
  • Swift was born into the Anglo-Irish Protestant elite, and the text satires both the callousness of his class and a then-ascendant approach to morality and politics that held that all aspects of life could be cooked down to a pure numerical value.
    — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, Bier recognizes the pure joy of seeing these women drinking margaritas again, resulting in a vivid and sweet celebration that gradually reframes aging as a process of gaining power rather than losing it.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of pure
Adjective
  • To determine whether there's a bacterial infection, that urine must be cultured.
    — Meghan Rabbitt, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Crème fraîche is a slightly tangy cultured cream with around 30% fat.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of cultured
Adjective
  • Specs AccordionItemContainerButton Upsides AccordionItemContainerButton Downsides Instead of constantly kicking that pile of shoes to the side by your entryway, give them an elegant home with this tilt-out storage cabinet.
    — Lauren Arzbaecher, Architectural Digest, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The New York Times recently showcased 41 of the greatest Mexican restaurants across the country, from taco trucks to elegant eateries with tasting menus.
    — Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of elegant
Adjective
  • Here, she’s matured as a well-rounded comedienne who can pull the stops for subtle approaches to laughs, and though the mugging is still evident, it’s only used for propitious moments.
    — Hank Grant, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Comey’s nods to Drexler are mostly subtle, drawing from the artist’s color palette of vibrant hues from bright green and orange to cobalt blue and lilac, with an eye toward their high-contrast juxtapositions, a hallmark of Drexler’s paintings.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of subtle
Adjective
  • An outpost of the Milanese hotspot, the Italian eatery offers fine dining in exquisite surroundings.
    — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In Barbara Forever, an exquisite new documentary by Brydie O’Connor, there’s even old, grainy footage of Hammer essentially saying as much before a screening of her films.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of exquisite
Adjective
  • Suffice it to say, a QB's rookie year is not always an accurate portrayal of the player that QB will become.
    — Austin Mock, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • However, according to veterinarians, this calculation isn't always accurate.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of accurate
Verb
  • In that context, the extra lending since the end of June and the peculiarities of that Gordon transfer instalment make plenty of sense, as the club continues to lose cash each season, even as underlying profitability measures are much improved.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The institute says future progress will therefore depend not only on better algorithms, but also on common standards, interoperable interfaces, realistic testing and improved resistance to electronic interference.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of improved

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Cite this Entry

“Refined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refined. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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