fine 1 of 5

adjective

ˈfīn How to pronounce fine (audio)
Definition of finenext
1
as in dusty
consisting of very small particles the fine sand found on the island's beaches

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2
as in subtle
made or done with extreme care and accuracy the fine distinction between bravery and recklessness

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3
as in thin
being of less than usual width use a fine line for the outline of the facial features you intend to carve into the pumpkin

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4
as in OK
being to one's liking that arrangement is fine with me

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5
as in pure
free from added matter that silver is .9600 fine

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6
as in accurate
meeting the highest standard of accuracy making the final fine adjustments on the car's GPS

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7
as in adequate
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards the wine steward declared that the complaint of corkiness was unjustified and that the wine was fine

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8
as in small
of a size that is less than average read the fine print

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9
as in excellent
of the very best kind a fine performance of a classic ballet

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10
as in elegant
having qualities that appeal to a refined taste savored every morsel of the restaurant's fine cuisine

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11
as in sensitive
able to sense slight impressions or differences hearing so fine that it can seemingly hear the tiniest twig snap

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12
as in handsome
having or showing elegance a fine old structure in the city's historic district

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fine

2 of 5

noun

as in penalty
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment a $50 fine for speeding

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fine

3 of 5

verb (1)

as in to impose
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty the police will fine you for driving with one headlight out

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fine

4 of 5

verb (2)

as in to filter
to remove usually visible impurities from the use of egg shells to fine wine

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fine

5 of 5

adverb

as in good
in a satisfactory way you did just fine on the stress test

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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 fine
Adjective
The cooperative specializes in Zeter, a finer variety of Pulu made from especially soft wool from the necks and backs of sheep. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026 Fortunately, Forbes Travel Guide has uncorked some insider tips for sampling Napa’s finest wines, including joining a wine club and taking a local class. — Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
The mayor urged the board to leverage its full enforcement authority to issue the order, including maximum financial fines against Lineage. — Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 The critical issue for citizen suits is who — the government or private citizens — collects fines and has control. — Michael Phillis, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
San Diego manager Dick Williams would be suspended for 10 days and fined $10,000 while Atlanta manager Joe Torre and five players each received three-game suspensions. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026 Nobody got fined, nobody got suspended … and heaven forbid, nobody got fired. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Adverb
For a fine-dining experience, book a table at Laury’s Restaurant, a local favorite for decades. — Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 30 July 2026 But despite losses and a legal battle, Tannenbaum is doing just fine. — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fine
  1. dusty
  2. subtle
  3. thin
  4. OK
  5. pure
  6. accurate
  7. adequate
  8. small
Adjective
  • Video of the remarkable rescue filmed by Osorio shows the tiny infant in a dusty bodysuit being carefully pulled out of the wreckage.
    — Rocio Munoz, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Others were more barren, with dusty volcanic rocks and jagged cliffs surrounding secluded turquoise coves.
    — Annie Daly, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of dusty
Adjective
  • Her lyrics, like those of many of her biggest musical influences, are dense texts, full of winking allusions and subtle references to records, bands, and albums that have shaped her own songwriting.
    — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Izquierdo recommends asking for softly disconnected layers, a blended curtain fringe, and soft, subtle texture.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of subtle
Adjective
  • Farinacci often spent days and even weeks scouting potential fire locations, monitoring weather and wildfire data, and planning to set multiple fires to stretch firefighting resources thin, according to detectives.
    — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Those moments are sobering reminders of just how thin the margins are for the Phillies rotation, which has been excellent for the most part, though extremely top-heavy.
    — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • Being financially okay is about more than the size of an account balance.
    — Kristin Vance Richards, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Those local leaders who came in as Democrats five, six, seven years ago wanted to make shoplifting okay, kept the schools closed too long, they got repudiated by voters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of OK
Adjective
  • The interactions between Bourdain and Ciro are pure movie magic and that’s due partly to the performances — both actors have to be in the Oscar race — as well as to the screenplay by Johnson, Todd Bartels, Lou Howe and Matthew Miller.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Unauthorized sequels reveal the extremes of why people make movies in the first place, from purely cynical money grabs to pure — even naive — devotion to characters and their world.
    — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of pure
Adjective
  • The prerequisite to knowing business value is a cost model that is comprehensive, accurate and trusted.
    — Udam Dewaraja, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • My son was diagnosed with a spontaneous variant resulting in Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome, and my daughter ultimately received an accurate genetic diagnosis of Phelan-McDermid syndrome after years of unanswered questions.
    — Brad Quick, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of accurate
Adjective
  • New regulations required flameproof tents, safety training, and adequate available fire extinguishers.
    — Dr. Marianne Parshley, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Since students won’t come to campus in adequate numbers, sell the physical campus, dorms and recreational facilities.
    — Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of adequate
Adjective
  • These vines will also happily wind their way around tree trunks and shrubs and fix themselves in place with small rootlets that take on a hairy appearance as poison ivy plants mature.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Tidy a corner and play a favorite song, letting a small routine remind everyone that care comes through simple, repeatable acts.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of small

Phrases Containing fine

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finds out
fine
fined
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Cite this Entry

“Fine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fine. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fine

Nglish: Translation of fine for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fine

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