as in polished
having a shiny surface or finish
bright burnished metal is used extensively in that boutique's decor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in rubbed
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 burnished
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
In contrast, with a GLP-1, people might be more inclined to take them because of their burnished reputation.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026
Stock up on lumbar and throw pillows with geometric motifs and flannel and denim bedding, burnished brass, and suede elements.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
His voice sounds burnished and vital, never tired.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
Decked with cashmere curtains and burnished-leather bed frames, the guest rooms offer breathtaking mountain views and Western authenticity.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Warmer, more distinctive finishes such as burnished brass, bronze, and mixed materials are replacing matte black.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
Mango Luisa Penny Loafer The Mango Luisa Penny Loafers put a refined spin on the wardrobe classic thanks to the burnished leather and moc-toe silhouette that’s polished and effortless.
—Olivia Dubyak, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
The ground crunches on my morning walks, carpeted in burnished leaves the same colors of the hearts of flames.
—Morgan Lockhart, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
The surface appears slightly mottled or burnished, giving it the feel of something that’s been hand-made and used for years.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2026
The foothills in the distance become burnished in the golden hour’s fading light.
—Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
The moment burnished the image Clinton was trying to build as someone who was willing to stand up to the party’s special interests and most loyal voting base.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 17 Feb. 2026
And under the broiler, it becomes burnished on the bird, almost candied in taste.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Feb. 2026
Quinton notes that burnished brass and bronze are in high demand.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
The arrival of Matsuhisa, Moncler, and Prada, along with Dior residencies and Veuve Clicquot-in-the-snow après events, has burnished that image.
—Amy Tara Koch, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2026
Dubai’s reputation as a paradise for sun-seekers and digital nomads has been burnished on TikTok and Instagram, and in recent years the UAE has sought to formalize content creation as a profession, bringing it into the fold of its economic transformation drive.
—Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Instead of needing to overcome the one-time stigma of tiny Gonzaga, Lloyd enjoyed a burnished reputation, having spent so much time with inarguably one of the standard bearers of the sport.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
In contrast, with a GLP-1, people might be more inclined to take them because of their burnished reputation.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026
Stock up on lumbar and throw pillows with geometric motifs and flannel and denim bedding, burnished brass, and suede elements.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
His voice sounds burnished and vital, never tired.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
Decked with cashmere curtains and burnished-leather bed frames, the guest rooms offer breathtaking mountain views and Western authenticity.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Warmer, more distinctive finishes such as burnished brass, bronze, and mixed materials are replacing matte black.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
Mango Luisa Penny Loafer The Mango Luisa Penny Loafers put a refined spin on the wardrobe classic thanks to the burnished leather and moc-toe silhouette that’s polished and effortless.
—Olivia Dubyak, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
The ground crunches on my morning walks, carpeted in burnished leaves the same colors of the hearts of flames.
—Morgan Lockhart, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
Verb
Millions of Monarchs hang from the trees like frostbitten leaves the underside of their wings exposed, burnished, and bronzed.
—Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
The surface appears slightly mottled or burnished, giving it the feel of something that’s been hand-made and used for years.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2026
The foothills in the distance become burnished in the golden hour’s fading light.
—Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
The moment burnished the image Clinton was trying to build as someone who was willing to stand up to the party’s special interests and most loyal voting base.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 17 Feb. 2026
And under the broiler, it becomes burnished on the bird, almost candied in taste.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Feb. 2026
Quinton notes that burnished brass and bronze are in high demand.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
The arrival of Matsuhisa, Moncler, and Prada, along with Dior residencies and Veuve Clicquot-in-the-snow après events, has burnished that image.
—Amy Tara Koch, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2026
Dubai’s reputation as a paradise for sun-seekers and digital nomads has been burnished on TikTok and Instagram, and in recent years the UAE has sought to formalize content creation as a profession, bringing it into the fold of its economic transformation drive.
—Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnished
Adjective
-
Individual cottages with modern interiors are set up in mini neighborhoods and have fireplaces with polished concrete hearths, heated floors, and floor-to-ceiling glass bifold doors leading to landscaped gardens.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Think compression packing cubes that help tame chaos, comfy sneakers for full days of walking, a polished matching set that multitasks, and genius travel accessories that keep everything organized.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His grandiose persona rubbed many the wrong way early on, earning him a villain label.—
Pamela Chelin,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
And Jesse Leasure, who was drenched in pepper spray and felt like his skin was on fire and as though someone had rubbed his eyeballs with sandpaper.—
Olivia George,
Washington Post,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This time, my eyes slid to the fresh silver polish on her fingernails, her cascading perm thick but without any undergrowth, and those eyes darting from me to the cop, glistening as if on the verge of pouring.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The puppet wore a black judicial robe and had glistening eyes with slit pupils.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The looming canyon nearly obscures sunlight, and sinuous, layered stone reveals warm burgundy, grey, and violet striations smoothed by centuries of flooding.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Fronting the glittering waters of the Atlantic, the Louis XIII-style promenade is currently undergoing a multi-million-dollar renewal, its granite tiles buffed and smoothed, vegetation planted, and its sea lions by sculptor José Fioravanti returned to their former glory.—
Siobhan Reid,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The live-action show is a rather loose adaptation of the original manga, presenting itself as a glossy prestige drama, a bit more serious than its source material.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In a small saucepan, combine the guava marmalade, pineapple juice, brown sugar if using, and a pinch of salt, and warm until smooth and glossy.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The publication adds that the finished product is coated with a cheese seasoning blend that includes oil and powdered ingredients, contributing to its distinctive texture and durability.—
Claire Dodds,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
-
These panels are coated with a photothermal dye that captures and converts sunlight into heat.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The days were spent in a sleek conference room, where guests gave talks.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In a warm-weather Cactus League game late in February, the sleeker, stronger Waldron flung the fastest knuckleball many Padres had seen.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Under his meticulous care, the gleaming red sports car has been souped up to generate 400-horsepower turbo performance, but retains much of the original features and feel.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The trailer features stunning images of the massive gleaming white cube that was the centerpiece of the staging and Instagram-worthy shots of the pryo and special effects that made the tour a must-see for fans.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
10 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burnished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnished. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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