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sophisticated

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verb

past tense of sophisticate

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sophisticated differ from other similar words?

The words blasé and worldly-wise are common synonyms of sophisticated. While all three words mean "experienced in the ways of the world," sophisticated often implies refinement, urbanity, cleverness, and cultivation.

guests at her salon were usually rich and sophisticated

When might blasé be a better fit than sophisticated?

The meanings of blasé and sophisticated largely overlap; however, blasé implies a lack of responsiveness to common joys as a result of a real or affected surfeit of experience and cultivation.

blasé travelers who claimed to have been everywhere

In what contexts can worldly-wise take the place of sophisticated?

Although the words worldly-wise and sophisticated have much in common, worldly-wise suggests a close and practical knowledge of the affairs and manners of society and an inclination toward materialism.

a worldly-wise woman with a philosophy of personal independence

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 sophisticated
Adjective
Pair with high-waist dark-wash jeans and a blazer or with wide-leg cream trousers for a look that’s laid-back yet sophisticated—ideal for a day of gallery- or museum-hopping in Madrid or London. Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025 Doris & Jacky Bucket Hobo Bag Moore’s luxe velvet suit called for an equally refined accessory, and this $60 bucket bag delivers that same sophisticated energy. Taylor Jean Stephan, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
That third and final generation (2013 through 2017) was sophisticated by comparison to its predecessors, although drivers still had to stir their own six-speed gearbox and work a massive clutch pedal. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2025 The technology was sophisticated, but the experience was simply human. Medhat Zaki, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sophisticated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sophisticated
Adjective
  • Traders, artists and thinkers from Europe and the Middle East passed through here, and that constant exchange shaped a culture that’s curious, adaptable and deeply cosmopolitan.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Cultured, cosmopolitan, generally liberal, the Dohnányis and the Bonhoeffers represented the best of the German-speaking bourgeois tradition.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • As some of nature’s most impressive architects, spiders construct intricate webs—some of which even glow under UV light—using various silk types.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Detailed Furniture While most grandmother's homes are filled with old furniture, there's value in the pieces that have intricate detailing and the ability to have a second life with a new owner.
    Heather Bien, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Characterized by graceful, winding arms that spiral out from a bright central bulge, these systems are rich with both young and old stars, swirling gas and cosmic dust.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
  • After winning over America with his epic one-liners and graceful skates, Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon tackled the dance floor alongside partner Jenna Johnson.
    Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The collection includes 3,100 black-and-white images taken in nearly 300 villages, towns, and cities around the country as well as the negatives and detailed data sheets describing construction techniques, materials, and historical context for each building.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Leafs coach Craig Berube did not provide a detailed update on Nylander’s possible injury.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Save as a collection on MyRecipes Who says cooking has to be complicated to be delicious?
    Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2025
  • What promises to be a perfect week is complicated when Sabrina meets Ian Turner (Sherwood), a handsome British visitor, at the hotel bar.
    Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Over time, as the original practice gets diluted, ritual takes over as a memory device.
    Big Think, Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Give your plant orchid food or a balanced fertilizer diluted to half strength.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Food systems now account for about a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, but scientists say regenerative agriculture and climate-smart farming can help flip that into a future where farms also help grow climate solutions.
    Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Gerard Damiano was a smart guy, a hairdresser from the Bronx who directed Deep Throat and the follow-up, Devil in Miss Jones, which were killing it at the box office, high up on Variety’s Top 50 list of the highestgrossing films.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The reality is that housing production is a very complex issue.
    Kim Velsey, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2025
  • And the drive to solve complex problems started early.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sophisticated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sophisticated. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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