REFINED Synonyms: 459 Similar and Opposite Words

refined 1 of 2

adjective

ri-ˈfīnd

Definition of refined

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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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pure

free from added matter refined gold

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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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as in elegant

having or showing elegance a refined woman with gracious manners

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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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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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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

Buckwheat ravioli filled with Prà Fiorito cheese and Swiss chard celebrated local artisanal ingredients, while a refined chicken cacciatore demonstrated impressive restraint. — Vicki Power, TheWeek, 14 Sep. 2026 The innovative all-inclusive cruise line is renowned for sophistication, extraordinary hospitality, personalized service, and access to unusual ports, which underscores its appeal to Tully’s refined clientele. — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 11 Sep. 2026

Verb

Automakers like Toyota have refined their hybrid powertrain systems over the years to ensure that vehicles can travel incredibly long distances on a single tank of gas. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026 Another summer signing, Bazoumana Toure, has a similar ability to Fernandez-Pardo to stand up a defender in a one-vs-one, even if the other parts of his game are not as refined. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for refined

Recent Examples of Synonyms for refined

Adjective

Chandra spotted 84 suspicious object emitting very low-energy X-rays in six galaxies – four evolved ellipticals and two spirals, namely our near-neighbor the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101).

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2026
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

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

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

The goal should be to build a substantial and accurate body of information about the organization over time.

— Evan Nierman, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
But his military-industrial base is slowly edging into a new era of cheaper, longer-range, more accurate and deadly drones and missiles.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 14 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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refine

refined

refinement

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Style

“Refined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refined. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of refined

adjective

verb

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