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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refinement
With the methodological refinement of consumer behavior, the marketing around behavioral analysis reached increasing scientific sophistication with respect to theory development and testing procedures.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
There’s a kind of imperfection and emotional rawness, but also these moments of incredible refinement, ugliness, and exquisiteness.
—Lilyanna D'amato, ARTnews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
The Chinese scientist added that further refinement is ongoing, emphasizing that translating the system into real-world applications will require sustained research and engineering improvements.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
Sykes and his wife Diane began the project around six years ago, and the bike is now in its fifth stage of development, with further refinements still underway.
—New Atlas, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for refinement
Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
There’s a kind of imperfection and emotional rawness, but also these moments of incredible refinement, ugliness, and exquisiteness.
—Lilyanna D'amato, ARTnews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
The Chinese scientist added that further refinement is ongoing, emphasizing that translating the system into real-world applications will require sustained research and engineering improvements.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
Sykes and his wife Diane began the project around six years ago, and the bike is now in its fifth stage of development, with further refinements still underway.
—New Atlas, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for refinement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refinement
Noun
-
District 204 is currently undergoing a major district-wide facilities overhaul, after voters in 2024 approved a proposal from the district to sell up to $420 million in bonds to pay for facility improvements.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
-
To Nurse, the most noticeable improvement has been Anunoby’s shooting.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
His message after the series-opening loss is that one bad game does not make for a lost round in the playoffs, and just to get to this point is already an accomplishment of note.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
4 May 2026
-
More accomplishments are in store at the section meet that begins Wednesday with the Division 1 swim prelims at Southwestern College.—
Glae Thien,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
In 2018, timed to the hotel's 25th anniversary, a major $60 million renovation by Didier Lefort, one of Hill’s co-collaborators, brought a fresh, timeless elegance up to the present moment without ever diluting its true attraction—the rainforest.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
-
Nia Long exuded timeless elegance for her Met Gala debut, stepping onto the carpet in her signature natural glam.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Advertisement Start preparing days in advance A few days before your procedure, switch to what’s called a low-residue diet—one free of high-fiber foods like whole grains, fruits, and raw vegetables—which will help minimize the amount of undigested food that lingers in your colon.—
Holly Burns,
Time,
6 May 2026
-
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey also will be one of the summer’s top-grossing titles, with the pic’s sellout of Imax 70MM locations a year in advance a big indicator of want-to-see.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
There are ancient civilizations that have achieved extremely sophisticated engineering.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
-
His planet has dealt with great wars that have devastated civilization and left advanced weaponry accessible to very few people.—
Sanat Pai RaikarAll,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Nuclear fusion, the same process that powers the sun, has undergone several advancements in the last few years, according to DEEP.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
The continual advancement in that area is because the economics drive it forward.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
Noun
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Banks’ lack of effort during the 2024 season, in fact, was one of the factors that drove Dexter Lawrence to his breaking point of frustration in trying to lead a team without a winning culture of accountability out of the abyss.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
4 May 2026
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The 2014 Met Gala remains etched in pop culture history — not just for the red carpet fashion, but for the dramatic footage of Jay-Z and Solange fighting in The Standard hotel elevator following an afterparty at the Boom Boom Room in New York City.—
Alyssa Modos,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Their satanic majesties request your attention to this breaking news.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
-
In fact, music, the majesty and mystery thereof, is a theme to which Simon has returned time and again.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refinement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refinement. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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