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
Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 17 Dec. 2019
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
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
The dark, burnished stew smelled faintly sweet.
—Restaurant Critic, Houston Chronicle, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for burnish
Noun
The cream turns into a rich sauce and the cheese gets bubbly-brown; the greens towards the top burnish (kale chips!) but those underneath stay silky-soft.
—Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 17 Dec. 2019
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
Verb
The federal case outlines an alleged scheme in which the Chinese used Wang to burnish their country’s image.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
The dark, burnished stew smelled faintly sweet.
—Restaurant Critic, Houston Chronicle, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for burnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnish
Noun
-
Biscan suggests benefiting from the gleam and dimension of iridescence while opting for the sophistication of marble and marble-look tiles.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2026
-
The chef Eric Ripert and his partner, Maguy Le Coze, understand that space and time are as much luxuries as the commitment to craft and decades of dedication that give each plate here a consummate gleam.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Use this solution to blot the top layer of the mattress, trying to moisten and gently rub versus soak the mattress.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
-
The plastic bristles coax out loose hair as your cat rubs against it.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
For facials, Maria is able to coax complexions to a glow that TikTok filters can’t match.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
-
Is this recommendation merely a brazen attempt to steer students toward a major that has lost most of its glow and even become the butt of jokes about what a student did while in college?—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Plenty of people already use AI to polish text in emails or other documents before sending them, and this is essentially the same thing for voice input.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
12 May 2026
-
Something about a summer ceremony invites fun into a potentially formal dress code—your attire should be polished, yes, but can lean playful and bright.—
Sarah Zendejas,
Vogue,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Rai is the only player on the PGA Tour who wears two black weatherproof rain gloves, rain or shine, May or November, instead of one traditional white leather glove on the nondominant hand.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
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The embellished design features an array of glittery gems and ombré crystals scattered across the slim straps, giving the shoes a jewel-like shine and more of a show girl-worthy dazzle.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The award-winning Star Flower Niacinamide serum contains thousands of sparkling micro pearls, each packed with fresh, nutrient-rich actives for concentrated calming benefits and deep hydration to smooth the look of pores and fine lines.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
-
He has not been smoothed by the sandpaper of Washington just yet.—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
In his work exist iconic signs of beloved local establishments — like the Playpen — the blinding glint reflecting off downtown’s skyline, telephone poles regarded as totems.—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The bright glint to the left is Venus.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Because a bright sky helps subdue Venus's glare, this is a good time to inspect the planet telescopically, though its gibbous disk remains rather small and approximately seven-eighths illuminated.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
-
But only briefly; the glare returned in a flash.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnish. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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