refresh

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb refresh differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of refresh are rejuvenate, renew, renovate, and restore. While all these words mean "to make like new," refresh implies the supplying of something necessary to restore lost strength, animation, or power.

a refreshing drink

When would rejuvenate be a good substitute for refresh?

The words rejuvenate and refresh are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rejuvenate suggests the restoration of youthful vigor, powers, or appearance.

the change in jobs rejuvenated her spirits

Where would renew be a reasonable alternative to refresh?

Although the words renew and refresh have much in common, renew implies a restoration of what had become faded or disintegrated so that it seems like new.

efforts to renew the splendor of the old castle

When can renovate be used instead of refresh?

The meanings of renovate and refresh largely overlap; however, renovate suggests a renewing by cleansing, repairing, or rebuilding.

the apartment has been entirely renovated

In what contexts can restore take the place of refresh?

The words restore and refresh can be used in similar contexts, but restore implies a return to an original state after depletion or loss.

restored a fine piece of furniture

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 refresh Estimated Cost: $25 to $50 Want to refresh old furniture but don’t want to go through a lengthy refinishing process? Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2025 Office 2024 Home & Business provides a familiar, reliable suite with improved speed, refreshed interfaces, and deeper functionality. Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 23 May 2025 While the plot was essentially a bigger and louder riff on Borderlands 1, Handsome Jack's major presence and the much bigger variety of wild locales and enemies made the adventure refreshing enough. Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 22 May 2025 Clean out the dust and refresh thermal paste: Older desktops tend to overheat, which can slow things down or cause random shutdowns. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for refresh
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refresh
Verb
  • The council has spent months deliberating the budget and, most recently, decided to restore funding for a residential parking program, youth events and immigrant legal aid.
    Annika Merrilees, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025
  • Some were assured by their supervisors that their benefits would be restored.
    Andrea Hsu, NPR, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • The successful hatchings come about a year after Scout ate two of his chicks as a first-time dad, leaving the pair with no surviving eaglets from their first nesting season, McClatchy News previously reported.
    Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2025
  • The calls came while eating lunch, while lying in bed at night.
    Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Ultimately, 1970 was the most exuberant model year for the breed of automobiles whose power and tire-smoking, straight-line performance would not be revived by American manufacturers for more than four decades.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 27 May 2025
  • Syria’s oil and gas, raw materials, and manufacturing sectors could be revived, generating revenue for the government and providing livelihoods for many of the country’s citizens.
    Natasha Hall, Foreign Affairs, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • Many people also send donations to or place qurbani orders in Muslim countries to feed disadvantaged people.
    Monica Haider, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
  • The mushrooms are cultivated using solid-state fermentation, a process in which the mycelium feeds on gluten-free organic oats and transforms them into bioavailable nutrients.
    Boutayna Chokrane, Wired News, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • With so many items to choose from, Le introduced a miniature single-serving size pho, allowing for dim sum-style family dining around a variety of dishes.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 31 May 2025
  • Guests can also dine at Okta, the hotel’s restaurant, where a seasonal tasting menu is built around ingredients from the hotel’s own farm and neighbouring producers.
    Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Verb
  • All American fans, consider this your two-minute warning: The CW has renewed its long-running football drama for an eighth — but final — season.
    Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 2 June 2025
  • If no new terms are agreed upon, the deal automatically renews for another three years—unless either side fails to meet its obligations.
    Marie Poteriaieva, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Refresh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refresh. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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