refinement

noun

ri-ˈfīn-mənt How to pronounce refinement (audio)
Definition of refinementnext
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

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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

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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

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.
Recent Examples of refinement For creators who want additional control, Hi3D also provides tools for manual color adjustment, painting refinement, and detailed optimization through its Studio environment. — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026 Instead of those big transformations, the focus is moving toward refinement. — Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026 Final design and engineering refinements for the Oceanside project are expected to continue through 2027. — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026 Even so, the Pilot continues to stand out for its combination of refinement, functionality and long-term ownership satisfaction. — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for refinement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refinement
  1. improvement
  2. accomplishment
  3. elegance
  4. advance
  5. civilization
  6. majesty
  7. advancement
  8. culture
Noun
  • Board members voted Tuesday to release a report detailing the investigation into Hill, including the process, lessons learned and recommended improvements, by the end of September.
    — Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026
  • So your improvement is about four to five times bigger than what the average participant in our study gained.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of improvement
Noun
  • It’s often said that great athletes struggle to talk about their sport and their accomplishments.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • McGuiness’ in-ring appearances have been few and far between but getting back in shape to make it through to the end is an accomplishment in and of itself.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of accomplishment
Noun
  • The composure of Amélie, and the decidedly wild and clownish manner in which she’s painted, can’t be tamed into order, elegance, or beauty.
    — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The sellers decided to put the marble over the top and update it with elegance, without taking away what was originally here.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of elegance
Noun
  • Technological advances have already made drones cheaply and readily available for purchase, with longer ranges, higher payloads, and an improved ability to evade electronic warfare.
    — Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Continuous investment in research and development ensures clients benefit from the latest advances without becoming locked into specific technologies.
    — Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of advance
Noun
  • Some of Western civilization’s greatest artists, including Botticelli, Raphael, Rubens, Canova, Cezanne, and Picasso, have all adapted their forms according to the tastes of the time.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
  • And to be useful, these civilizations need to be predictable.
    — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of civilization
Noun
  • The stunning majesty of Florida’s wildlife, lands and culture is on display in a new show at Winter Garden’s SOBO Art Gallery.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026
  • While national parks may garner peak interest from outdoor enthusiasts, travelers shouldn’t discount the accessibility and majesty of national forests for late summer and fall exploration.
    — Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of majesty
Noun
  • One specific area that is actively being explored is the potential of using bacteriophages, which are originally viral in nature, in conjunction with advancements in AI to help detect, track and destroy resistant bacteria forms.
    — Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The advanced weapon features AV’s 20kW-class LOCUST LWS integrated on the General Motors Defense Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) platform–a significant advancement in mobile, frontline C-UAS capabilities.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of advancement
Noun
  • Former senior vice president of people and culture Erin Dangerfield, now Golden State’s chief people officer, allegedly questioned Vasquez about her responses in the survey.
    — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Spotify acquired The Ringer — a sports and pop culture website and podcast network — in 2020 for more than $200 million, according to reports.
    — Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of culture

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refined
refinement
refinements
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Cite this Entry

“Refinement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refinement. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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