as in improving
to make better
worked on refining her backhand before the big tennis match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 refining
The shop has been restoring and refining shorter wheelbase G-Wagens for years now, with the LWB Cabrio being its first stab at a longer one.
—
Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
Over the next decade, Hawke and Linklater met periodically to read the script, refining it with screenwriter Robert Kaplow between sessions.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Duren’s been refining with big man coach Vitaly Potapenko but has shown sparingly thus far in his career.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
China itself is the world’s biggest gold producer, refining 418 tons last year, and is also the top purchaser, importing 1,350 tons over the same period.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
So the pair is learning in real time how to take on the mussels on in this new environment, refining their approach to eradicating the mussels each year of treatment.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2025
But for West Cal Commodities Global, progress means refining it intelligently.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
To improve this issue, companies are working on refining both technology and management systems.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
Cybercriminals are constantly refining their tactics, and phishing emails that once looked laughably fake can now be nearly indistinguishable from the real thing.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
Over the next decade, Hawke and Linklater met periodically to read the script, refining it with screenwriter Robert Kaplow between sessions.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Duren’s been refining with big man coach Vitaly Potapenko but has shown sparingly thus far in his career.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
China itself is the world’s biggest gold producer, refining 418 tons last year, and is also the top purchaser, importing 1,350 tons over the same period.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
So the pair is learning in real time how to take on the mussels on in this new environment, refining their approach to eradicating the mussels each year of treatment.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2025
But for West Cal Commodities Global, progress means refining it intelligently.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
To improve this issue, companies are working on refining both technology and management systems.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
Cybercriminals are constantly refining their tactics, and phishing emails that once looked laughably fake can now be nearly indistinguishable from the real thing.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refining
Verb
-
Guerra — who represents the 6th District and neighborhoods including Colonial Manor, Elmhurst and Tahoe Park — has served on the City Council since 2015, and has been a vocal advocate for public parks, pedestrian safety and improving local business corridors.—
Hector Amezcua,
Sacbee.com,
29 Oct. 2025
-
To ward off feelings of isolation, founders and top executives are stepping outside of the office to focus on improving their well-being.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
These vision-enhancing tools were only available at great cost, and thus only the upper echelon of society’s members was able to access them.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Taiwan, too, should keep enhancing its civil and military defenses while restraining its assertions of sovereignty in cross-strait affairs.—
STEPHEN WERTHEIM,
Foreign Affairs,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refining. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share