polished

adjective

pol·​ished ˈpä-lisht 

1

: subjected to polishing : made smooth and glossy by or as if by polishing

a polished surface

polished silver

2

: characterized by a high degree of development, finish, or refinement : free from imperfections

a polished performance/performer

a highly polished piece of writing

3

somewhat old-fashioned : characterized by elegance and refinement

a polished gentleman

polished society

Synonyms

• buffed
• burnished
• glistening
• glossy
• lustrous
• rubbed
• satin
• satiny
• sleek

Examples of polished in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Equally important were the show’s recurring personalities: Tom Colicchio, a chef’s chef who ran some of New York City’s sharpest restaurants, was the gruff, no-nonsense industry veteran; Gail Simmons, from the magazine Food & Wine, was the polished, critically insightful diner. —Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2024

Meanwhile, a new crop of female artists began making their own country chart strides in the mid-2000s, including Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler (all of whom offered up polished, sparkly personas and pop-country sounds). —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2024

Earthy textiles, polished cement, and wicker accents make for a soothing blend. —Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2024

The blades are a mix of glossy, matte, sparkly, polished, and textured coatings, creating a custom feel without increasing the price. —Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 17 Apr. 2024

Last year, Duggan took the stage touting the city's accomplishments in front of hundreds inside the Michigan Central Depot, a structure that was once an eyesore and nearly up for demolition but has been restored to soon become one of Detroit's polished gems. —Detroit Free Press, 16 Apr. 2024

Directed with polished competence by TV episodic veteran Terry McDonough, this watchable but forgettable thriller runs a brisk gamut from the uninspired to the implausible. —Dennis Harvey, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024

The voluminous open cuff intersperses polished gold with negative space, encapsulating the 2024 trend for bold, sculptural jewelry. —Sarah Royce-Greensill, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024

While some celebrities have carved out hyper-specific senses of personal style, there has been a trend toward polished homogeneity. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English polisshed, from past participle of polisshen to polish

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1