1
as in crude
being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining
unrefined sugar
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clumsy
hastily or roughly constructed
an unrefined mountaineer's hut
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in vulgar
lacking in refinement or good taste
guilty of such unrefined behavior as eating with their mouths open
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 unrefined
The facade is made of raw concrete plaster that was intentionally left to weather over time, resulting in a rough, unrefined exterior that is contrasted by mahogany doors, oak paneling, and large glass windows.
—
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 18 July 2025
When adding flavor after cooking, reach for extra virgin olive oil, or something like unrefined sesame oil for an aromatic touch.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 18 July 2025
Meanwhile, the Asian giant was the top importer of copper ore and unrefined copper, accounting for roughly 60% of total imports in 2023, compared to just 17% in 2013, separate data from the trade agency showed.
—Amala Balakrishner, CNBC, 11 July 2025
The researchers looked at the women’s consumption of dietary fiber, total carbohydrates, refined carbohydrates, high-quality (unrefined) carbohydrates, and carbohydrates from whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unrefined
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 18 July 2025
When adding flavor after cooking, reach for extra virgin olive oil, or something like unrefined sesame oil for an aromatic touch.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 18 July 2025
Meanwhile, the Asian giant was the top importer of copper ore and unrefined copper, accounting for roughly 60% of total imports in 2023, compared to just 17% in 2013, separate data from the trade agency showed.
—Amala Balakrishner, CNBC, 11 July 2025
The researchers looked at the women’s consumption of dietary fiber, total carbohydrates, refined carbohydrates, high-quality (unrefined) carbohydrates, and carbohydrates from whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unrefined
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unrefined
Adjective
-
Joseph previously worked for an Emirati company, Global Shipping Group, and was also the signatory for three other tankers sanctioned for transporting Iranian crude oil.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Some Sora users depicted King making crude jokes and other inappropriate content.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Arturs Silovs looked a bit clumsy in the first period and his rebound control was less than stellar.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Actually, Alma does suffer from ulcers, which cause her extraordinary stomach pain and vomiting at inconvenient moments, and cause viewers to wonder not if but when such clumsy symbolic traits will be trotted out in the future.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The president has been targeting Jeffries online with offensive and vulgar memes since the pair first had an unsuccessful sit-down meeting in the Oval Office just before the shutdown.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
-
One room cracked up at a vulgar joke about a woman’s behind, while another went for an outrageous and surreal midfilm montage — but each bit was made genuinely funnier by the dozens of people gasping and wheezing over it.—
Robert Rubsam,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
There was obvious rust, and the shooting efficiency was rough, as Ball converted only 36% from the field.—
Stan Son,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The Dallas Cowboys' already rough defense took an unexpected hit Friday because of an at-home injury.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Each project presented at MIA is picked with a genuine desire for these works to come to the fore, not by crass commercial considerations.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Free speech covers the jokes, the satire, the parodies—even the dumb, crass, or offensive ones.—
Lizz Winstead,
Time,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
It’s still considered rude, and people on both sides tend to feel bad about it, albeit in different ways.—
Anna Holmes,
The Atlantic,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Is it meant to suggest something about focaccia’s typically dimpled surface, in which case … kinda rude?—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea-size pieces remaining.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The set comes with fine, medium, and coarse grinding plates; a food pusher; sausage stuffer tubes; and a cleaning brush.—
Mark Marino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Mules on the towpath along the canal could pull a heavy barge at a clip of 4 miles per hour – far faster than the job of dragging wagons over primitive roads.—
Christine Keiner,
The Conversation,
15 Oct. 2025
-
This is the first direct chemical proof that some of the primitive planet’s material survived the giant impact that formed the Earth and Moon.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unrefined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unrefined. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share