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sophisticated

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verb

past tense of sophisticate

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sophisticated differ from other similar words?

The words blasé and worldly-wise are common synonyms of sophisticated. While all three words mean "experienced in the ways of the world," sophisticated often implies refinement, urbanity, cleverness, and cultivation.

guests at her salon were usually rich and sophisticated

When might blasé be a better fit than sophisticated?

The meanings of blasé and sophisticated largely overlap; however, blasé implies a lack of responsiveness to common joys as a result of a real or affected surfeit of experience and cultivation.

blasé travelers who claimed to have been everywhere

In what contexts can worldly-wise take the place of sophisticated?

Although the words worldly-wise and sophisticated have much in common, worldly-wise suggests a close and practical knowledge of the affairs and manners of society and an inclination toward materialism.

a worldly-wise woman with a philosophy of personal independence

Examples 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 sophisticated
Adjective
By afternoon, the mimosa creates a sophisticated aura that’s both professional and uniquely personal. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Jan. 2025 Take a Leap into Bold Color with These Decorating Ideas 18 of 24 Yellow Pattern Mixing Mixing patterns gives a room energy and a sophisticated feel. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2025 Each aircraft is equipped with sophisticated optical and electronic sensors. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025 Researchers and startups hope that these kinds of foundational models could give robots used in factories and homes more sophisticated capabilities. Will Knight, WIRED, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for sophisticated 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sophisticated
Adjective
  • Berlin, like any cosmopolitan city, houses so many variegated communities, and I was drawn to writing a character who can navigate the worlds of different milieus.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Its stylish interiors, including 24 guest suites, reflect the cosmopolitan vision and aesthetic sense of Anna Podini, who used modern and contemporary elements to accentuate the house’s prestigious past.
    Ann Abel, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But the very fact that this will be the first time Tyrer’s cause has been heard by the full committee in 43 years reflects how much more intricate his candidacy is than what the rules of order can mandate.
    Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 14 Jan. 2025
  • When legislation such as the No Surprises Act or Transparency in Coverage rules are introduced, stakeholders must adjust their processes within an already intricate system.
    Amanda Eisel, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The graceful pelicans would soar, and sandpipers would drill for sand crabs.
    James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025
  • This compact variety produces a graceful, rounded two-foot mound and grows well in winter containers in USDA zones 8 to 10.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Simplicity Al-Jazari’s detailed drawings with instructions are perhaps the earliest examples of a ‘do it yourself’ innovation kit, drawing the reader’s attention and exciting them about the possibilities and applications that the tool can provide.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Smith's report is expected to provide the most detailed explanation yet about what evidence the special counsel uncovered during its two-year investigation and why the Justice Department decided to indict Trump in two cases: for charges of election interference and mishandling classified documents.
    Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The influx of settlers and tourists displaced Native Hawaiians, limited their access to land, and diluted their cultural heritage, according to academics.
    Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
  • However, this protein content gets diluted when they're used to make almond milk, as the final product is primarily water.
    Jonathan Purtell, Verywell Health, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Instead, the Flow 2 truly shines with these smart features.
    Ben Sin, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
  • That led to his breakout success with The Elephant Man, starring John Hurt as the friendly and smart but disfigured title character in Victorian England and Anthony Hopkins as the doctor who tries to treat him.
    Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The film centers on Clémence, a quiet yet amusing Parisian, who had a complicated childhood.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Connections to Professional Networks The value of a standalone degree is only as good as the brand that issues it, but even a Harvard education doesn’t guarantee to provide knowledge on how to navigate the complicated recruiting process of a desirable employer brand.
    Sergei Revzin and Vadim Revzin, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • What does ring true until the final frame of the show and into our present-day lives is that civilization and the civilized rarely occupy the same space.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Douyin Warnings From Within China China’s drive to assimilate the Tibetans echoes history elsewhere in the world where Indigenous people were seen by their foreign occupiers as savages who needed to be civilized with boarding schools, causing trauma and abuses.
    Chris Buckley, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near sophisticated

Cite this Entry

“Sophisticated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sophisticated. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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