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
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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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refinement
Schoen proposed refinements to the program for working women that would center on workshops on overcoming barriers.
—
Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 26 June 2025
In that case, the path to more robust reasoning capabilities may require fundamentally different approaches rather than refinements to current methods.
—ArsTechnica, 11 June 2025
If your priority is peaceful refinement, these Genesis sedans are quietly persuasive contenders.
—New Atlas, 22 June 2025
The undrafted, 6-8 Jones had enough juice to uncork 27 dunks in 308 minutes but otherwise didn’t show enough refinement as an offensive player or enough impact as a defender to warrant rostering.
42.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for refinement
Terri Daxon, Oc Register, 26 June 2025
In that case, the path to more robust reasoning capabilities may require fundamentally different approaches rather than refinements to current methods.
—ArsTechnica, 11 June 2025
If your priority is peaceful refinement, these Genesis sedans are quietly persuasive contenders.
—New Atlas, 22 June 2025
The undrafted, 6-8 Jones had enough juice to uncork 27 dunks in 308 minutes but otherwise didn’t show enough refinement as an offensive player or enough impact as a defender to warrant rostering.
42.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for refinement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refinement
Noun
-
For the Pacers, the next step is bringing those improvements from the summer league floor to the NBA court.—
Tony East,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Gale’s progressive social agenda gets wrapped in folksy, regionalist humor, as the Friendship Married Ladies Cemetery Improvement Sodality try to bring modern improvements to their village.—
Deborah Williams
July 14,
Literary Hub,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Ebert credits his employees with many of the company’s accomplishments.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
13 July 2025
-
One of his biggest accomplishments was helping form the Minneapolis Urban Coalition after the Plymouth Avenue violence in 1967.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
The second work gives her a chance to show off her flawless double stops, played with elegance.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
11 July 2025
-
Historical Mystery Show: Step into a world of Victorian elegance and deadly secrets when DeBary Hall Historic Site partners with Gateway Center for the Arts to present a Historical Mystery Show.—
Joe Rassel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued timely forecasts and warnings in advance of Friday's catastrophic flooding in central Texas, but long-standing staffing concerns—including unfilled leadership positions—remained a source of unease among weather professionals.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 July 2025
-
Reservations to use the all-terrain wheelchairs must be made at least four days in advance through Reserve America.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
Now, season three is raising the stakes by bringing in the most relatable thing the show has done — the threat of the total collapse of civilization.—
Rafael Motamayor,
Vulture,
11 July 2025
-
Some students admitted that they were unsettled, and even moved, by the simple tableau of Heston weeping in front of the last symbol of an extinct civilization.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Create clear pathways for advancement via micro-credentials.—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
With recent advancements in smart home technologies, a rediscovery of traditional craftsmanship, and a rekindling of national pride, Chinese industry leaders said the number of luxury domestic furniture brands is expected to rise in the near term.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Combining the family’s love for Greek culture, nature and food, with their passion for yoga and mindfulness, Kea Retreat offers travelers the option to book a five or six-night retreat or simply indulge in a relaxing and restorative hotel stay.—
Monica Mendal,
Vogue,
15 July 2025
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Yes, artists are important to the persistence of culture, but artisanal skills must take a back seat to functional skills when a colony is still in its early stage.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
More admired than beloved, the show has extended an open challenge to theater artists drawn to the sophisticated majesty of Brown’s Tony-winning score but daunted by the expansive scope of Uhry’s Tony-winning book.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2025
-
While some of these women have officially earned their crowns in the Disney princess canon, other heroines like Elsa from Frozen (2013) and Mirabel from Encanto (2021) have essentially become honorary majesties.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refinement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refinement. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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