unrefined

adjective

un·​re·​fined ˌən-ri-ˈfīnd How to pronounce unrefined (audio)
Synonyms of unrefinednext
: not refined: such as
a
: lacking moral or social cultivation : coarse, uncouth
unrefined tastes and manners
b
: not separated from dross, impurity, or unwanted matter
unrefined oil/ore

Synonyms of unrefined

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Examples of unrefined in a Sentence

unrefined sugar an unrefined mountaineer's hut guilty of such unrefined behavior as eating with their mouths open
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The 43-year-old’s sketches are famously loose, bright and unrefined. — Rachel Brodsky, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 Affordable electric bikes usually mean enduring heavy frames, clunky kick-in for the motor and unrefined, unpredictable power delivery. — New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026 Next, take a lint-free cloth and rub a small amount of virgin, unrefined coconut oil into the wood in a swirling circular fashion. — Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 2026 Typically made with commodity-quality beans, this potent cup is brewed in a metal pot or filtered through cloth and sweetened with panela (unrefined cane sugar). — Nikkita Nair, Saveur, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unrefined

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unrefined was in 1582

Rhymes for unrefined

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Browse Nearby Words

unreeve
unrefined
unreflected
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Cite this Entry

“Unrefined.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unrefined. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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