1
as in sleek
having a shiny surface or finish
she could see her face reflected in the polished hood of the car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cultured
having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living
showing the polished manners of a cosmopolitan woman
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in smoothed
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
you'll need to polish your shoes with a clean rag before the performance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in finished
to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done
once you polish the article a bit, it'll be ready to submit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 polished
Sebastian Herrera,
Fortune,
27 June 2026
Defensively, Palestra’s game is less polished.
—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
Minty Mellon,
Vogue,
17 June 2026
No longer defined by denim cutoffs or fleeting summer trends, today’s most relevant styles are polished enough for the office, versatile enough for day-to-night dressing and sophisticated enough to rival their trouser counterparts.
—
Lauren Fisher,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for polished
Adjective
What made the accomplishment so notable inside Microsoft is that Andreou, a polished 33-year-old executive with Hollywood ties and a knack for pitching and presentations, had been hands-on with software developers to release Tasks, employees said.
—
Sebastian Herrera,
Fortune,
27 June 2026
Defensively, Palestra’s game is less polished.
—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
Verb
The fabric is light, but the silhouette is polished—offering the kind of versatility a summer capsule wardrobe should be built on.
—
Minty Mellon,
Vogue,
17 June 2026
No longer defined by denim cutoffs or fleeting summer trends, today’s most relevant styles are polished enough for the office, versatile enough for day-to-night dressing and sophisticated enough to rival their trouser counterparts.
—
Lauren Fisher,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for polished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polished
Adjective
-
Perched on the edge of a rocky plateau above the village, its sleek, ultra-modern rooms open onto balconies with views of the rooftops below and the Matterhorn beyond.
-
Here, this guest elevates the billowy style with kitten heels, a simple tee, a flannel tied around the waist, sleek sunnies, and an oversized bag.
Adjective
-
Clean Cultured Marble These same cleaning supplies and methods can be used to clean cultured marble bathroom vanity tops and sinks.
-
Some butter is cultured by adding lactic acid bacteria.
Verb
-
This, and other quirks of pronunciation or vocabulary, are easy tells when accents have otherwise smoothed into plain old American and traditional clothing has been shed in favor of jeans and T-shirts.
-
Inside the cage was a mouse—the mouse that Renova had significantly smoothed—eliciting a few gasps from nearby assistants.
Verb
-
The controversy only exploded the very next week when it was revealed the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) re-implemented a pilot program that bumped every girl who finished behind the trans athlete up by one spot on the podium.
-
Brown helped lead the Celtics to a 56-win season and finished sixth in MVP voting.
Adjective
-
The moving-room intro In classic Jackass movie tradition, Best and Last opens with an elaborate, glossy introduction that coincides with the opening credits.
-
Its glossy fabric and breezy silhouette work for countless occasions — plus, its luxe vibe dresses up outfits without a thought.
Adjective
-
In Season 3, the team enters Dinopia, a civilized dinosaur world, to face threats endangering both worlds through friendship, courage, and teamwork.
-
The chaos in Ithaca may be political and ethical—a violation of custom—but stretches of the poem are barbarous and wild, beyond civilized life altogether.
Verb
-
But did Spilotro go about life as an upstanding model citizen who rubbed elbows with the Vegas elite, while quietly and stealthily protecting the Mafia's financial interests in Vegas casinos?
-
With its Jewish delis, atmospheric dive bars, and underground music scene, the Mile End neighborhood minted the defining Montreal cool of the indie aughts—a place where cardiganed Italian grandmas rubbed shoulders with tattooed creatives.
Verb
-
The transaction was completed on May 11.
-
Those planes were supposed to be completed for presidential use in 2022, but now are expected by 2028, the Air Force said.
Cite this Entry
“Polished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polished. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
