as in vulgar
lacking in refinement or good taste
an unpolished but well-meaning young man
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Recent Examples of unpolished
There are games when the Colombian can look a bit unpolished, a little too desperate to attack at pace and hit through the ball with all his might.
—
Thom Harris, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
With three years of eligibility remaining, Rioux becomes one of the more intriguing players in the transfer portal for teams that can find a way to harness his size despite his unpolished game at the collegiate level.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Overall, the song retains Farley’s rustic, unpolished sense of connection, while bolstering it with a more full-bodied sound.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 30 Mar. 2026
Unlike the refined soft rock of Music and Dreams, these collections feel more immediate in their unpolished forms.
—David Harris, SPIN, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unpolished
Thom Harris, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
With three years of eligibility remaining, Rioux becomes one of the more intriguing players in the transfer portal for teams that can find a way to harness his size despite his unpolished game at the collegiate level.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Overall, the song retains Farley’s rustic, unpolished sense of connection, while bolstering it with a more full-bodied sound.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 30 Mar. 2026
Unlike the refined soft rock of Music and Dreams, these collections feel more immediate in their unpolished forms.
—David Harris, SPIN, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unpolished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpolished
Adjective
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But demeaning our brand through association with vulgar demagogues is a losing strategy.—
Alma Hernandez,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
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The word was considered so vulgar that it was left out of early dictionaries and was rarely printed, though Adams says people were certainly using it.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The bold phrase caused an uproar among fans; while some praised the model for her bravado, others criticized her for being crass.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
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Plastic trinkets and graffiti, television sets and bumper stickers, road signs and wigs—many might describe these items as disposable culture, signs of America’s crass habit of regarding anything as art.—
Hua Hsu,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Meeting a partner’s family can be challenging in any circumstance; anxieties about a family member saying something rude or belittling can only compound that.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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Ohm, well played by Scott who can wither with you with a look, is the classic ugly American and is rude to everyone at the hotel, but those putdowns and cruelty hides his self loathing.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Keep moisture in the soil by adding a a 3- or 4-inch-thick layer of insulating, coarse wood (NOT BARK) mulch, leaving some bare sunny spots for ground dwelling native bees.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
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Cutting up large or coarse ingredients like banana peels will speed up their decomposition.—
Jessica Damiano,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The suspension control software from their high-performance cars has enabled Ferrari to develop an algorithm to keep the boat stable, Ribigini adds, which will be vital at all times, but particularly in rough seas and strong winds.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
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Krejczyk and Gagen, meanwhile, are enjoying a season that started rough but has gotten better.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Zepbound, manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, advertises common side effects on its website that include hair loss, nausea and vomiting, fatigue and more.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
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Meanwhile, museums across the United States and Canada were acquiring examples for their collections, and totem poles were becoming common attractions at world fairs.—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
Adjective
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The book on Stowers is an elite athlete with high-level receiving production but an unrefined blocker who is limited in that area.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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The whimsical, unrefined aesthetic appeals to Gen Z readers nostalgic for Y2K collectibles.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Our hands soon became insensitive, clumsy hooks.—
Jim Hoagland,
Outdoor Life,
30 Apr. 2026
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The production is a revival of the disappointingly fussy, clumsy, old-fashioned one by Lee Blakeley the company unveiled in 2013 for Conlon and to celebrate the Verdi bicentennial.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unpolished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpolished. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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