sophisticated
adjective
so·phis·ti·cat·ed sə-ˈfi-stə-ˌkā-təd 
1
: deprived of native or original simplicity: such as
a
: highly complicated or developed : complex
sophisticated electronic devices
b
: having a refined knowledge of the ways of the world cultivated especially through wide experience
a sophisticated lady
2
: devoid of grossness: such as
a
: finely experienced and aware
a sophisticated columnist
b
: intellectually appealing
a sophisticated novel
sophisticatedly adverb
Did you know?
A sophisticated argument is thorough and well-worked-out. A satellite is a sophisticated piece of technology, complex and designed to accomplish difficult tasks. A sophisticated person, such as Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, knows how to get around in the world. But sophistication isn't always admired. As you might guess, the word is closely related to sophistry (see above), and its original meanings weren't very positive, and still today many of us aren't sure we really like sophisticates.
Synonyms
- cosmopolitan
- smart
- worldly
- worldly-wise
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Puck's mix of casual and sophisticated elements has become the most prevalent style of L.A. dining today. 
Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, 31 Mar. 2009 Sophisticated investors took Moody's and S&P's word for it, and it turned out that the agencies didn't know what they were doing. Andy Serwer et al., Time, 29 Sept. 2008 "These students want the amenities they grew up with at home—their own rooms, their own baths, along with some of the finer things in life. They're a more sophisticated consumer." Camille Sweeney, New York Times Real Estate Magazine, Spring 2007 Sonar devices can locate an enemy's sophisticated, almost-silent diesel submarines by, ironically, making a deafening noise—sometimes above 230 decibels, as loud as a Saturn V rocket blasting off. Dick Russell, Mother Jones, March & April 2006 She was a sophisticated and well-traveled woman. a swank and sophisticated restaurant Her knitting technique is more sophisticated than mine. See More
Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, 31 Mar. 2009 Sophisticated investors took Moody's and S&P's word for it, and it turned out that the agencies didn't know what they were doing. Andy Serwer et al., Time, 29 Sept. 2008 "These students want the amenities they grew up with at home—their own rooms, their own baths, along with some of the finer things in life. They're a more sophisticated consumer." Camille Sweeney, New York Times Real Estate Magazine, Spring 2007 Sonar devices can locate an enemy's sophisticated, almost-silent diesel submarines by, ironically, making a deafening noise—sometimes above 230 decibels, as loud as a Saturn V rocket blasting off. Dick Russell, Mother Jones, March & April 2006 She was a sophisticated and well-traveled woman. a swank and sophisticated restaurant Her knitting technique is more sophisticated than mine. See More Recent Examples on the Web Eva Longoria has managed to make head-to-toe glitter look sophisticated. Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 29 Aug. 2022 Sadly, Me Time doesn’t get any more sophisticated from there. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Aug. 2022 One of the more recent campaigns came from Turla, a Russian-speaking advanced persistent threat actor that has been active since at least 1997 and is among the most technically sophisticated in the world. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 20 July 2022 Scams against businesses and individuals have gotten more sophisticated over the years with the use of the internet, email and social media. Corrinne Hess, Journal Sentinel, 23 June 2022 Automotive press of the day lauded the engine, handling and comfort of the Lamborghini, generally regarding it as better made and more sophisticated than its competition. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 6 June 2022 There was a sizzling, organic charm to the whole affair, and such experiences will serve her well before the productions get sophisticated and the arena stages get big. Brian Mccollum, Detroit Free Press, 24 Apr. 2022 And Hodges believes that even more sophisticated weapons will be needed if the goal is for Ukraine to defeat Russia. Luis Martinez, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2022 At the same time, Austin indicated, such sophisticated weapons don’t just come out of the box ready to use. Karoun Demirjian, Washington Post, 24 July 2022 See More
Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 29 Aug. 2022 Sadly, Me Time doesn’t get any more sophisticated from there. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Aug. 2022 One of the more recent campaigns came from Turla, a Russian-speaking advanced persistent threat actor that has been active since at least 1997 and is among the most technically sophisticated in the world. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 20 July 2022 Scams against businesses and individuals have gotten more sophisticated over the years with the use of the internet, email and social media. Corrinne Hess, Journal Sentinel, 23 June 2022 Automotive press of the day lauded the engine, handling and comfort of the Lamborghini, generally regarding it as better made and more sophisticated than its competition. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 6 June 2022 There was a sizzling, organic charm to the whole affair, and such experiences will serve her well before the productions get sophisticated and the arena stages get big. Brian Mccollum, Detroit Free Press, 24 Apr. 2022 And Hodges believes that even more sophisticated weapons will be needed if the goal is for Ukraine to defeat Russia. Luis Martinez, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2022 At the same time, Austin indicated, such sophisticated weapons don’t just come out of the box ready to use. Karoun Demirjian, Washington Post, 24 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin sophisticatus
First Known Use
1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
sophisticated
adjective
so·phis·ti·cat·ed sə-ˈfi-stə-ˌkā-təd
1
: very complicated
sophisticated electronic devices
2
: having a lot of knowledge about the world especially through experience
3
: appealing to a person's intelligence
a sophisticated novel
sophisticated 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in cosmopolitan
having a wide and refined knowledge of the world especially from personal experience a surprisingly sophisticated and widely traveled child Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cosmopolitan
- smart
- polished
- worldly
- civilized
- worldly-wise
- suave
- urbane
- pragmatic
- cultured
- bored
- experienced
- refined
- sober
- cynical
- cultivated
- realistic
- seasoned
- pragmatical
- practiced
- skeptical
- schooled
- jaded
- knowing
- down-to-earth
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unsophisticated
- naive
- naïve
- innocent
- guileless
- untutored
- ingenuous
- inexperienced
- unworldly
- rustic
- green
- raw
- simple
- provincial
- parochial
- callow
- unrefined
- uncivilized
- uncultured
- childlike
- impractical
- idealistic
- simpleminded
- wide-eyed
- rustical
- philistine
- uncritical
- unknowing
2
as in complicated
having many parts or aspects that are usually interrelated a very sophisticated machine that is a marvel of modern design Synonyms & Similar Words
- complicated
- intricate
- complex
- complicate
- convoluted
- elaborate
- byzantine
- baroque
- involved
- tangled
- varied
- labyrinthine
- difficult
- labyrinthian
- knotty
- multifaceted
- daedal
- heterogeneous
- mixed
- involute
- challenging
- multifarious
- overcomplicated
- composite
- compound
- overcomplex
- tough
- multipart
- incomprehensible
- inexplicable
- unintelligible
- multibranched
- unfathomable
- impenetrable
- Kafkaesque
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- simple
- uncomplicated
- simplistic
- plain
- simplified
- noncomplex
- homogeneous
- noncomplicated
- uniform
- oversimplified
- unvaried
3
as in graceful
having or showing very polished and worldly manners a sophisticated gentleman, he is a welcomed guest at dinner parties all over town Synonyms & Similar Words
- graceful
- civilized
- suave
- urbane
- smooth
- gracious
- polished
- debonair
- attractive
- svelte
- experienced
- cosmopolitan
- smart
- serene
- cultured
- slick
- confident
- cultivated
- practiced
- appealing
- refined
- cavalier
- glib
- metropolitan
- poised
- unctuous
- composed
- seasoned
- genteel
- amiable
- knowing
- well-bred
- worldly-wise
- collected
- tranquil
- calm
- schooled
- placid
- couth
- secure
- metro
- undisturbed
- assured
- unperturbed
- cool
- self-assured
- practised
- self-possessed
- self-confident
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- clownish
- uncouth
- clumsy
- classless
- boorish
- wooden
- uncomfortable
- loutish
- uneasy
- awkward
- inexperienced
- stilted
- rustic
- green
- raw
- stiff
- gauche
- unsophisticated
- churlish
- ungraceful
- puerile
- graceless
- provincial
- parochial
- unrefined
- inelegant
- callow
- uncivilized
- rustical
- uncultured
- unworldly
- stodgy
- ungainly
- insecure
- gawky
- philistine
- rough-hewn
- diffident
- hick
- lubberly
4
as in detailed
made or done with great care or with much detail a sophisticated plan for totally redesigning the city's complicated traffic patterns Synonyms & Similar Words
- detailed
- intricate
- elegant
- complicated
- elaborate
- complex
- fancy
- involved
- exquisite
- ornate
- magnificent
- extravagant
- splendid
- showy
- exuberant
- flamboyant
- frilly
- grandiose
- overwrought
- ostentatious
- convoluted
- grand
- fancified
- chichi
- souped-up
- involuted
- labyrinthine
- Byzantine
- labyrinthian
- involute
- gimmicked (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unsophisticated
- simple
- uncomplicated
- modest
- plain
- unfancy
- no-frills
- unadorned
- naked
- plain-vanilla
- unvarnished
- undecorated
- bald
- plain-Jane
- bare
sophisticated
2 of 2verb
1
as in complexed
to make complex or difficult there's no need to sophisticate something that is beautiful in its simplicity Synonyms & Similar Words
- complicated
- complexed
- intensified
- complexified
- perplexed
- embarrassed
- elaborated
- entangled
- confused
- expanded
- developed
- muddled
- snarled
- tangled
- magnified
- confounded
- mixed (up)
- messed (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- simplified
- streamlined
- facilitated
- shortened
- cut
- abbreviated
- straightened (out)
- eased
- oversimplified
- unraveled
- disentangled
- untangled
2
as in diluted
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances vanilla extract that has been sophisticated with corn syrup Synonyms & Similar Words
- diluted
- loaded
- infected
- manipulated
- weakened
- spoiled
- cut
- poisoned
- thinned
- extended
- adulterated
- watered down
- laced
- polluted
- contaminated
- tainted
- degraded
- corrupted
- debased
- tempered
- qualified
- attenuated
- spoilt
- soiled
- dirtied
- sullied
- misrepresented
- falsified
- counterfeited
- spiked
- cheapened
- befouled
- defiled
- faked
- doctored
- moderated
- fouled
- envenomed
- fudged
- tampered (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- enriched
- strengthened
- fortified
- refined
- augmented
- reinforced
- supplemented
- fertilized
- improved
- purified
- enhanced
- richened
- distilled
- filtered
- cleaned
- flushed
- larded
- clarified
- purged
- cleansed
- reenforced
- pasteurized
- concentrated
- condensed
- decontaminated
- leached
- bettered
- compacted
Synonym Chooser
The words blasé and worldly-wise are common synonyms of sophisticated. While all three words mean "experienced in the ways of the world," sophisticated often implies refinement, urbanity, cleverness, and cultivation.
guests at her salon were usually rich and sophisticated
The meanings of blasé and sophisticated largely overlap; however, blasé implies a lack of responsiveness to common joys as a result of a real or affected surfeit of experience and cultivation.
blasé travelers who claimed to have been everywhere
Although the words worldly-wise and sophisticated have much in common, worldly-wise suggests a close and practical knowledge of the affairs and manners of society and an inclination toward materialism.
a worldly-wise woman with a philosophy of personal independence