as in gleam
brightness created by light reflected from a surface
after some much-needed polishing, the silver tea set had a brilliant burnish
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to rub
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
burnished the floor of the ballroom to a soft luster
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of burnish
Caleb Crain, Harper's magazine, 22 July 2019
Perhaps the open roasting caused the sugar to caramelize, adding a slightly bitter burnish that mitigated the awful sweetness.
—Mimi Sheraton, The Seattle Times, 25 Sep. 2018
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2025
Gold climbed to burnish its reputation as a safe investment, unlike some others.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burnish
Noun
As each streetlamp passed, the burnish of its reflected light rolled up alongside them on the asphalt, like a dolphin curious about a new boat in her waters, and then veered away.
—Caleb Crain, Harper's magazine, 22 July 2019
Perhaps the open roasting caused the sugar to caramelize, adding a slightly bitter burnish that mitigated the awful sweetness.
—Mimi Sheraton, The Seattle Times, 25 Sep. 2018
Verb
Lawler sought to burnish his image as a straight-talking problem solver who can work with everyone from Trump to Democrats to get things done.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2025
Gold climbed to burnish its reputation as a safe investment, unlike some others.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnish
Noun
-
On opening night, the soprano’s top notes blazed out with a cool gleam, but her lower and middle registers lacked the heft needed to punch through Strauss’s dense textures.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
-
Yet beneath the gleam of champagne bars and five-star hotels, a current of mountain grit still flows.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
So in the long run, even somewhere like Oxford won't be rubbing their hands with glee if life is harder for Harvard — because Oxford and Harvard do projects together.—
Willem Marx,
NPR,
5 June 2025
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Privately, Musk rubbed a number of senior officials the wrong way during his time in government, and his complaints about a key legislative goal may further agitate his critics in the administration.—
Miranda Nazzaro,
The Hill,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
As the moon and stars light the night, the fabric and tiny mirrors will provide a magical glow to the ralli design. SR: Does ralli-making have a cultural connotation other than its usage as a quilt? PS: There are deep cultural meanings to ralli-making.—
Sonya Rehman,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
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Essie Penny Talk $10 at Amazon $13 $10 at Walmart $10 at Ulta There's a metallic for every season, and summertime calls for a rose gold shade that mimics a sunset glow.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
12 June 2025
Verb
-
The 55-year-old former model polished up the look with Christian Louboutin denim pumps.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
14 June 2025
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Williams is also still polishing his footwork and becoming more comfortable operating from under center.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2025
Noun
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The texture of the shampoo was rich, coated the hair well, and imparted a like-new shine — thanks to the product’s rich ingredients of coconut oil, silk proteins, shea butter, and neem oil.—
Kayla Blanton,
People.com,
5 June 2025
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Use it post-style for shine, on damp hair to seal in hydration and add nourishment, pressed into braids or locs, or even mixed into conditioner for an extra boost.—
Martine Thompson,
Essence,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
The researchers of the 2022 study also found that people on the receiving end of indirect attacks also end up responding with silence, politeness or attempts to smooth things over.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
-
The star of the show is its capsule technology, which kicks in right away to smooth things out.—
Deanna Pai,
Glamour,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
There are also some unexpected turns, like Glinda walking down the aisle toward Fiyero and a glint of Dorothy's silver shoes, moments not found in the stage version.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
5 June 2025
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All eyes are on the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague next month, officials hoping for a glint of clarity on how the U.S. wants to remould its relations with Europe.—
Ellie Cook — reporting from Rovajärvi, northern Finland,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
Noun
-
At one point, El Moussa's father could be observed getting upset and turning around to glare at the man.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
13 June 2025
-
Sometimes leaders, like astronomers, need tools to block out the glare and find the right path to new discoveries.—
Eric Reicin,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnish. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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