1
as in improvement
an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill
the recent refinements in this area of medical technology
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accomplishment
a high level of taste and enlightenment as a result of extensive intellectual training and exposure to the arts
had a sense of refinement that her small hometown couldn't satisfy, so she moved to New York City to be closer to great museums and concert halls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in elegance
dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style
although she can afford all the jewelry that money can buy, she dresses with the gentle refinement that only taste can bestow
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refinement
While much of the design is unique, HLS is more of a refinement than a completely new device.
—
Perri Thaler, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Oct. 2025
After 14 years of refinement, the team has now boosted the cell’s performance to an impressive nine percent.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2025
The curriculum covers logline refinement, pilot structure, world-building, script reviews, packaging, and pitch practice.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
Denim 21 Micron was born from their exclusive 21 Micron wool, providing a performance fabric that is resistant, breathable and durable — Vitale Barberis Canonico proposes using the fabric for a suit for an everyday wearable style that emphasizes refinement yet practicality.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refinement
Perri Thaler, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Oct. 2025
After 14 years of refinement, the team has now boosted the cell’s performance to an impressive nine percent.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2025
The curriculum covers logline refinement, pilot structure, world-building, script reviews, packaging, and pitch practice.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
Denim 21 Micron was born from their exclusive 21 Micron wool, providing a performance fabric that is resistant, breathable and durable — Vitale Barberis Canonico proposes using the fabric for a suit for an everyday wearable style that emphasizes refinement yet practicality.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refinement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refinement
Noun
-
Paying close attention to how each pillow affected their sleep, any improvements in neck pain, restlessness, and temperature regulation, to determine which pillows made the grade as the most luxurious options out there, both in sleep feel and in material makeup.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Officials say the historic building is in need of improvements and upgrades.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Or do other accomplishments, not to mention more intangible things, fill the void?—
Joe Kozlowski,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Women are taught to keep our accomplishments close.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Just last week, the 74-year-old actress shared a video of herself on Instagram wearing what can only be described as the embodiment of countryside elegance.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Jacobsen is a French American designer who often uses glass as her medium, crafting it into objects simultaneously sculptural and practical, bridging the gap between elegance and whimsy.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The stock has declined about 11% this year, trailing a nearly 17% advance by the S&P 500 Index.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The programs in the series were created in a collaboration with performance artists, and resulted in a group of surreal experimental works that pushed the boundaries of sound and narrative well in advance of the digital era.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Over two decades in the making, the $1 billion museum -- set close to the famed Pyramids of Giza, just outside the capital Cairo -- is touted by officials as the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilization.—
Ayat Al-Tawy,
ABC News,
2 Nov. 2025
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It was utilized across many ancient civilizations for artwork, as well as preserving and tanning animal hides.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Achieving quick, consistent self-assembly in solution without evaporation has remained a significant difficulty, despite advancements in block copolymer templating, metal alkoxide chemistry, and nanomaterials.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The designers also wanted to pay homage to the technology that makes an advancement like this possible.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The entry of the American brand helped spur the rise of a thriving coffee culture among the burgeoning middle class of a country that traditionally drank tea, and Starbucks soon became a symbol of Western influence in a more affluent China.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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The goal of the program, arranged through the hotel concierge, is to encourage discovery of the soul of an area through bold design, local culture, and meaningful connections.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Yes, Clouzeau and Arnaud and the filmmaking crew deserve accolades for bringing the majesty and horror of K2 to life on the screen.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
23 Oct. 2025
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That doesn’t mean there isn’t pop majesty here too.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refinement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refinement. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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