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
Mitra Taj, New York Times, 17 May 2025
Installers have the ability to burnish (or polish) each layer to create more shine, so the overall finish is almost completely customizable.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 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
By the late 1990s, the brainy student had reinvented himself as a courageous pastor in Peru, burnishing his credentials in the order.
—Mitra Taj, New York Times, 17 May 2025
Installers have the ability to burnish (or polish) each layer to create more shine, so the overall finish is almost completely customizable.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for burnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnish
Noun
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Yet beneath the gleam of champagne bars and five-star hotels, a current of mountain grit still flows.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
-
Super fine golden pearls give a gorgeous gleam while coconut, avocado and argan oils, plus squalane and vitamin E nourish skin and add radiance.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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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
-
This view of the Truman Home at 215 N. Delaware Street in Independence carries the Kodachrome glow of the 1950s.—
Randy Mason,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2025
-
But as the glow of last year’s AI hype fades, reality is setting in: Companies that rushed toward shiny new tech without fixing their foundations are now struggling to scale it.—
Kristin Russel,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
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The formal coupes are polished using specialty techniques to reveal a reflective, opalescent finish.—
Maria Conti,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2025
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Elevated by fluted panels and a duo of discreet storage drawers, its look is polished enough to nimbly complement non-office settings.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
3 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
-
Who doesn’t love a pair of leggings that sucks you in and smoothes your midsection?—
Elizabeth Mitchell Kadar,
Glamour,
2 June 2025
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The team was accused of stuffing and smoothing the seams of the rear attenuator, a part that is standard for all teams and therefore cannot be modified.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2025
Noun
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From the windows of her family’s 14th-floor apartment, Alvarez was transfixed by the view of cars threading along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and the glint of the Manhattan Bridge.—
Elly Fishman,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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The images often frame Bono in shadow, with glints of light around him, lending a chiaroscuro elegance to his presence.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
16 May 2025
Noun
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The Indy native has seen the city thrive under the glare of two NBA All-Star Games, the CFP national championship game, and dozens of other national and international championships.—
Michael Marot,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
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It is formulated with LED lights with glare control and low optical flicker for eye care.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnish. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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