refined

1 of 2

adjective

re·​fined ri-ˈfīnd How to pronounce refined (audio)
Synonyms of refined
1
: free from impurities
2
: fastidious, cultivated
3
: precise, exact
a refined test for radioactivity

refined

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of refine

Synonyms of refined

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Adjective

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Examples of refined in a Sentence

Adjective She has become more refined in her painting technique. He has very refined manners. refined and elegant works of art
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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.
Adjective
From the lobby to the guest rooms, there’s an exquisite attention to detail with fine finishes, appealing textures, and a color palette carefully chosen to evoke the refined spirit of Milan. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026 Antique mirrors, walls adorned with refined stucco work, and flooring made using traditional Venetian Seminato, an ancient technique involving marble inlays and a polished surface, are some of the key elements of the boutique. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026 Raw inputs are extracted from the periphery, refined and assembled in the metropole, and sold back at a markup. — Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026 Waititi and co-screenwriter Dahvi Waller seem impervious to that refined sensibility, instead preferring to slather on the quirks, to stunningly charmless effect. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for refined

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of refined was in 1582

Rhymes for refined

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Browse Nearby Words

refine
refined
refined madder
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Cite this Entry

“Refined.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refined. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

refined

adjective
re·​fined
ri-ˈfīnd
1
: socially well-trained : well-bred, cultivated
very refined manners
2
: freed from impurities : pure
refined sugar
3
: carried to a fine point : subtle
refined measurements
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