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
Andy Rose, CNN Money, 4 June 2025
Rather than deterring its rival, India precipitated a retaliation that ended up burnishing the Pakistani military’s reputation and boosting its domestic popularity.
—Aqil Shah, Foreign Affairs, 23 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
His legacy as one of the first openly gay politicians elected to office in the US – and the first openly gay official elected in California – was burnished in history with an Oscar-winning biopic performance from Sean Penn.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 4 June 2025
Rather than deterring its rival, India precipitated a retaliation that ended up burnishing the Pakistani military’s reputation and boosting its domestic popularity.
—Aqil Shah, Foreign Affairs, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for burnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnish
Noun
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Dad sat up tall, waving both hands around to his neighbors, that big gleam across his face.—
Raj Tawney,
People.com,
15 June 2025
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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
Verb
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Spray each area of the body for at least six seconds from just a few inches away, and then rub it in.—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer,
Health,
16 June 2025
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Just slice an onion and rub it along the grates using tongs.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
15 June 2025
Noun
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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
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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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Across town, fans who had gathered for a watch party at PSG House on Melrose celebrated with all the hardware PSG won this season, including a Champions League trophy that is only beginning to show its shine.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2025
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The sheets in Harry’s apartment have the same — a deep beige shine.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
15 June 2025
Verb
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According to Richie, her new chop was a result of hair damage from keratin treatments, which uses chemicals to smooth frizzy or curly hair.—
Bella Cacciatore,
Glamour,
27 June 2025
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Offering a civic-minded channel devoted to displaying democracy in action helped smooth the path for the pay TV industry’s expansion.—
Stephen Battaglio,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2025
Noun
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The man opened his hand, and the stadium lights reflected, at last, on a glint of silver.—
Jason Anthony,
The Atlantic,
14 June 2025
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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
Noun
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Gravina’s praise for his temperament amid the media glare also left one with the impression that the FIGC president can’t be on social media, where the reels of Gattuso’s press conference shenanigans have guaranteed virality.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
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There are protectors that serve many different purposes, such as protecting your TV screen from cracks, reducing glare on your screen and protecting your TV from the elements. TV surface protection Most people who are buying a TV screen protector are looking for surface protection.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnish. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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