1
as in improvement
an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill
the recent refinements in this area of medical technology
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accomplishment
a high level of taste and enlightenment as a result of extensive intellectual training and exposure to the arts
had a sense of refinement that her small hometown couldn't satisfy, so she moved to New York City to be closer to great museums and concert halls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in elegance
dignified or restrained beauty of form, appearance, or style
although she can afford all the jewelry that money can buy, she dresses with the gentle refinement that only taste can bestow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refinement
Not very agricultural Ironically, that extra refinement makes the Solterra feel less like a true Subaru, at least to me.
—
Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026
His edges going backwards can be a little sloppy, but with some refinement and good coaching, there could be something there.
—Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 3 June 2026
That said, the Tesla Model Y continues to set the benchmark in this segment with its superior technology, performance and overall refinement.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
Made from 100% Brazilian cotton and garment-washed for lived-in softness, Matteo's Riviera delivers understated refinement that lasts.
—Jasmine Desiree, Architectural Digest, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for refinement
Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026
His edges going backwards can be a little sloppy, but with some refinement and good coaching, there could be something there.
—Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 3 June 2026
That said, the Tesla Model Y continues to set the benchmark in this segment with its superior technology, performance and overall refinement.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
Made from 100% Brazilian cotton and garment-washed for lived-in softness, Matteo's Riviera delivers understated refinement that lasts.
—Jasmine Desiree, Architectural Digest, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for refinement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refinement
Noun
-
Mendoza, an incumbent council member and former Los Angeles Mission College employee, campaigned on public safety, economic development and infrastructure improvements, pointing to efforts to attract new investment and strengthen city finances.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
3 June 2026
-
Mohiuddin’s appeal challenges 19 of the 33 conditions of approval, including annual compliance reviews, restrictions on the use of the Farley Road facility, attendance caps and capital improvement conditions for parking expansion, landscaping and screening.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Winners were met with enthusiastic applause from attendees, who celebrated both the accomplishments of the recipients and the work of their peers.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
The Big 12 Conference regular-season and postseason tournament champion Kansas Jayhawks have added NCAA Regional winner to their growing list of accomplishments during what has been a magical 2026 baseball season.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Spacious rooms and suites are among some of the largest in the city and reflect the elegance, refinement, and comfort long associated with Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
4 June 2026
-
Here are nine couches for small spaces that channel elegance without stuffiness.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
The culinary experiences were highlights of the stay and absolutely worth reserving in advance, whether that’s for dinner at PUR’ or for the hotel’s recent addition of afternoon tea time, built around cookies.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
-
Check tour lengths in advance and look at what else is on the property — many distilleries sit on historic estates worth wandering for the scenery alone.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
If a president’s dire threats to annihilate a civilization can instantaneously go global, so too can videos of fans on their hands and knees, filling trash bags.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
1 June 2026
-
All of these works proffer visions of escape from civilization and thereby from maturity.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
His family went without answers for five decades — until genealogy advancements allowed investigators to crack the cold case by linking human remains found at a waste transfer station in Pima County to Sipfle's family, per KVOA and KOLD.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
31 May 2026
-
Cultural Heritage and Responsible Development Satisfying cultural and environmental concerns, particularly around Oak Flat (Chi’chil Bildagoteel), has been crucial to the project’s advancement.—
David Blackmon,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Those in search of connecting with local culture and exploring new neighborhoods might find more adventure at some other Caribbean islands.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Over that same decade, the dialectic of populist and elite politics and culture also shaped planning for the 1976 Bicentennial celebration of the American Revolution, perhaps the farthest-reaching civic project ever attempted in the United States.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The team leapt to a 2-0 lead early in the first half thanks to the majesty and refreshing return-to-form of Christian Pulisic, who assisted on the first goal and finished off the second.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
1 June 2026
-
There are acid critiques of settler colonialism alongside tributes to the majesty of the American landscape, sober revisitations of enslavement alongside hopeful pleas for liberation, bitter denouncements of intervention in wars abroad alongside quaint homages to homespun Americanness.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refinement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refinement. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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