as in vulgar
lacking in refinement or good taste
an unpolished but well-meaning young man
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Recent Examples of unpolished
There are games when the Colombian can look a bit unpolished, a little too desperate to attack at pace and hit through the ball with all his might.
—
Thom Harris, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
With three years of eligibility remaining, Rioux becomes one of the more intriguing players in the transfer portal for teams that can find a way to harness his size despite his unpolished game at the collegiate level.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Overall, the song retains Farley’s rustic, unpolished sense of connection, while bolstering it with a more full-bodied sound.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 30 Mar. 2026
Unlike the refined soft rock of Music and Dreams, these collections feel more immediate in their unpolished forms.
—David Harris, SPIN, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unpolished
Thom Harris, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
With three years of eligibility remaining, Rioux becomes one of the more intriguing players in the transfer portal for teams that can find a way to harness his size despite his unpolished game at the collegiate level.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Overall, the song retains Farley’s rustic, unpolished sense of connection, while bolstering it with a more full-bodied sound.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 30 Mar. 2026
Unlike the refined soft rock of Music and Dreams, these collections feel more immediate in their unpolished forms.
—David Harris, SPIN, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unpolished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpolished
Adjective
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As Dan’s relationship with Kolkena progressed, Betty reportedly left vulgar and threatening messages on the couple’s answering machine, prompting Dan to threaten criminal contempt action, according to the Los Angeles Times.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
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But demeaning our brand through association with vulgar demagogues is a losing strategy.—
Alma Hernandez,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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The bold phrase caused an uproar among fans; while some praised the model for her bravado, others criticized her for being crass.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
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Plastic trinkets and graffiti, television sets and bumper stickers, road signs and wigs—many might describe these items as disposable culture, signs of America’s crass habit of regarding anything as art.—
Hua Hsu,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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If Pan American Airways represented, at its height, victory and suavity, the country achieving a kind of European state of grace, then Spirit was the exact opposite—synonymous with the rowdy and the rude at the heart of the American character.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
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But please don’t be that rude person calling over and over to someone who is not available at the time.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Keep moisture in the soil by adding a a 3- or 4-inch-thick layer of insulating, coarse wood (NOT BARK) mulch, leaving some bare sunny spots for ground dwelling native bees.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
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Cutting up large or coarse ingredients like banana peels will speed up their decomposition.—
Jessica Damiano,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The suspension control software from their high-performance cars has enabled Ferrari to develop an algorithm to keep the boat stable, Ribigini adds, which will be vital at all times, but particularly in rough seas and strong winds.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
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Krejczyk and Gagen, meanwhile, are enjoying a season that started rough but has gotten better.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
For example, most labels won’t tell you what kind of soil a plant needs; only some plants can handle the dense, alkaline clay soil common in the Chicago area.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Incidents are most common at night.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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The book on Stowers is an elite athlete with high-level receiving production but an unrefined blocker who is limited in that area.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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The whimsical, unrefined aesthetic appeals to Gen Z readers nostalgic for Y2K collectibles.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Furthermore, Sharpe spent six months learning how to tinkle the ivories, an impressive commitment which pays off during the pivotal piano battles and ensures a welcome absence of clumsy cutaways from fingers to face.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
8 May 2026
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Then with a little nudging, the clumsy newborn finds the udder bulging between the cow’s back legs and hungrily suckles colostrum so critical for its first feeding.—
Susan Koch,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unpolished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpolished. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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