as in improving
to make better
worked on refining her backhand before the big tennis match
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Recent Examples of refining
Researchers say MaybeRobot's development has now stabilized, allowing the hackers to focus on refining NoRobot's stealth.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
What Happens Next The CHSRA plans to consult with property owners in Kern County and continue refining its design with the goal of reducing costs and impacts before any construction changes move forward.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
The company has spent the past several months refining that idea.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
Since the 1960s, heavy fuel oil—a residual product from refining gasoline, diesel, and kerosene—has been the principal energy source for ocean-faring vessels.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2025
The guys did a great job during the work week last week, refining the plan, getting healthy, continuing to develop our skills, and are eager for the second half of the climb here.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
The shop has been restoring and refining shorter wheelbase G-Wagens for years now, with the LWB Cabrio being its first stab at a longer one.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
Over the next decade, Hawke and Linklater met periodically to read the script, refining it with screenwriter Robert Kaplow between sessions.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Duren’s been refining with big man coach Vitaly Potapenko but has shown sparingly thus far in his career.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
What Happens Next The CHSRA plans to consult with property owners in Kern County and continue refining its design with the goal of reducing costs and impacts before any construction changes move forward.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
The company has spent the past several months refining that idea.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
Since the 1960s, heavy fuel oil—a residual product from refining gasoline, diesel, and kerosene—has been the principal energy source for ocean-faring vessels.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2025
The guys did a great job during the work week last week, refining the plan, getting healthy, continuing to develop our skills, and are eager for the second half of the climb here.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
The shop has been restoring and refining shorter wheelbase G-Wagens for years now, with the LWB Cabrio being its first stab at a longer one.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
Over the next decade, Hawke and Linklater met periodically to read the script, refining it with screenwriter Robert Kaplow between sessions.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Duren’s been refining with big man coach Vitaly Potapenko but has shown sparingly thus far in his career.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refining
Verb
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Across Brazil, nearly three-quarters of citizens believe city climate initiatives are improving both the environment and their daily quality of life.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Mayo is a community activist and nonprofit leader whose organization Transforming Nations Ford focuses on improving the Nations Ford and Arrowood corridor.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Several tech players are already constructing private energy plants for their own use as part of their data center buildouts, so there is nothing radical about Democrats insisting on tying approvals for data centers to bearing the cost of enhancing the public grid.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Gemini is also enhancing Lens in Maps.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refining. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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