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
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in elegant
having or showing elegance
a refined woman with gracious manners
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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
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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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as in improved
to make better
worked on refining her backhand before the big tennis match
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refined
Outside, 24 Mar. 2026
China has also temporarily suspended exports of refined oil products such as gasoline and jet fuel to protect its domestic supply, according to S&P Global Energy.
—Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
Of course, in Louisiana, with its cheap, abundant, and locally refined gasoline, many civilians drive these behemoths, too, so at school pickups, organizers asked parents to roll their windows down and blast music, something that joyless agents would never do.
—Daniel Brook, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for refined
Adjective
Still, there’s room in a runner’s diet for both high‑fiber, complex carbohydrates and low‑fiber, refined options.
—Outside, 24 Mar. 2026
China has also temporarily suspended exports of refined oil products such as gasoline and jet fuel to protect its domestic supply, according to S&P Global Energy.
—Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
Newer models have refined the design and added more high-tech features, but the iPhone X offers that iconic modern-day iPhone aesthetic for much cheaper; instead of spending close to $1,000, this model costs less than $165.
—Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
Of course, in Louisiana, with its cheap, abundant, and locally refined gasoline, many civilians drive these behemoths, too, so at school pickups, organizers asked parents to roll their windows down and blast music, something that joyless agents would never do.
—Daniel Brook, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for refined
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refined
Adjective
-
Are human beings really that much more evolved than our Cretaceous counterparts?—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Released 18 years after 28 Weeks Later (2007), the third installment in the postapocalyptic horror series is set on one of the British Isles, where a community has flourished, isolated from the more evolved versions of the infected that still terrorize the region.—
Ilana Gordon,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Their relationship starts as pure rivalry, shifts into a friends-with-benefits arrangement and eventually evolves into a full romantic relationship across the six-episode first season.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Mar. 2026
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But Honeywell is inching up, as people anticipate receiving shares of a pure-play aerospace company and an automation and security company.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The executive pastry chef and partner at Birdee in Brooklyn, New York, uses slow-cultured buttermilk from local dairy Ronnybrook to make the bakery’s chocolate and red velvet cakes, as well as a buttermilk panna cotta.—
Emily Saladino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
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Kennedy’s own reputation as an arts patron rang a little hollow; most of the work was done by his impeccably cultured wife, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Depending on the combination, this creates either a clean, almost futuristic appeal or a soft, elegant look.—
Jana Ackermann,
Glamour,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Van Beirendonck gravitates toward loud prints in bright colors and allusions to BDSM, whereas Van Saene makes elegant cocktail dresses for women with bow details and shrunken cardigans.—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Interestingly, the wristband could accurately predict a wide array of hand positions, from 26 letters of complex American Sign Language signs to the subtle grips required for holding scissors, a tennis ball, or a pencil.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
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Mouth breathers tend to carry their head forward to open the airway, a subtle shift that can become its own habitual pattern.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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There, seasonal bounty from Northern California’s Dry Creek Valley melds with Kyoto’s exquisite Kansai agricultural offerings.—
Matt Bomer,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Mar. 2026
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My table had Stephen Jones, the exquisite Francesca Hayward from the Royal Ballet, Lila Moss, and a few others, all conjuring up a flavor of those long-ago guests at a decadent bar.—
Hamish Bowles,
Vogue,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Weather apps have a tendency to alienate their user bases, perhaps because people’s physical experiences—their plans, their dress, their commutes—so directly depend on an accurate report.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Conditions in Kauai have improved significantly, but authorities encourage people to exercise caution near streams and low-lying areas as grounds remain saturated.—
Jen Murphy,
Outside,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The technology has improved significantly over the years and continues to evolve rapidly.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refined. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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