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
Relevance
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
But Graviton can still come in handy for AI workloads, specifically for refinements, or post-training, after models have been trained with large amounts of data using large-scale computing clusters.
—
Jordan Novet, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
From check-in to housekeeping to the concierge team, the service ethos has all the warmth of traditional Indian hospitality with the global brand’s reputation for refinement.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Over the next year, the suit will continue to undergo iterative testing and refinement, including material validation for safety, durability, and compatibility with the station’s environment.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
The platform supports books up to 300,000 words and runs each project through over 1,000 internal steps from ideation through refinement.
—Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for refinement
Jordan Novet, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
From check-in to housekeeping to the concierge team, the service ethos has all the warmth of traditional Indian hospitality with the global brand’s reputation for refinement.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Over the next year, the suit will continue to undergo iterative testing and refinement, including material validation for safety, durability, and compatibility with the station’s environment.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
The platform supports books up to 300,000 words and runs each project through over 1,000 internal steps from ideation through refinement.
—Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for refinement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refinement
Noun
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They too have been linked to improvements in health — blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and overall heart health — all of which can also improve the brain.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Some analysts said margin pressures remain but expect improvement in the second half of 2026.—
Akriti Shah,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ashton has also been recognized for several personal athletic accomplishments.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The accomplishment shocked military planners everywhere.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This 50-room boutique hotel in the French Quarter of Charleston aims to nurture a sense of relaxation and comfort, elegance and warm hospitality.—
Asa Canty,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Apr. 2026
-
For many women of color, the slick-back bun was, and is, a perfect intersection of elegance and endurance.—
Elizabeth Gulino,
Allure,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Turkey shored up this power, its military and mercenaries and economic might and arms sales and technological advances, resembling its long-time ally the United States, as much as Russia, Saudi Arabia, Israel, or Iran.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The center will be powered by the IBM Quantum System Two, a modular computer that combines quantum and classical architecture to explore the nearly incalculable advances in technology the new field may bring.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And so there’s a near infinite way of telling the story of human civilization through the prism of drugs.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Kolona itself has a long history of occupation by various civilizations and was also an ancient site of worship.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But Gernsback's innovation of collecting previously-diffuse bits of literature ruminating on scientific discovery or technological advancement in one place proved to be an idea with staying power.—
Chris Klimek,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The case stands as a powerful example of how advancements in forensic science, particularly utilizing DNA and forensic genetic genealogy, continue to transform cold case investigations, delivering answers even decades after crimes occur.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The result was a collection of photographs that both capture the culture and the people of Mexico and record Hurst’s particular proclivities, the food that fed his hungry eye.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Italian culture minister Alessandro Giuli will not attend the opening of the Venice Biennale as a protest against the Russian Pavilion, which marks the country’s return to the exhibition following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
To appreciate the majesty of the Atlantic from your balcony, splurge on one of the upper-floor ocean-view options.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refinement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refinement. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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