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
Mark Woolsey, AJC.com, 11 Feb. 2026
The Epstein correspondence also shows how, right up to his second indictment, in 2019, some prominent people provided him with counsel or help in trying to burnish his image.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
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
And in addition to coordinating news releases and media interviews, Wills helped burnish the airline’s image.
—Mark Woolsey, AJC.com, 11 Feb. 2026
The Epstein correspondence also shows how, right up to his second indictment, in 2019, some prominent people provided him with counsel or help in trying to burnish his image.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for burnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnish
Noun
-
When the action rises in intensity, this gleam gathers quickly to a fiery glow of tragic power.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Your 4th House of Traditions gleams under today’s Full Moon, so private needs are potentially straining against public duties.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As the shoot unfolds, Clyde can be found affectionately rubbing Hayley’s hand, gently playing with the wedding band on her ring finger.—
Cierra Black,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Wet both the pumice stone and the surface where the stain is, and gently rub the pumice over the stain in short strokes until the stain is gone.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The team led by Paola Tiranti observed Uranus for nearly a full rotation, detecting the faint glow from molecules up to 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometres) above the cloud tops.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The illuminating skin tint instantly blurs and brightens my complexion and leaves behind a soft-focus glow—almost as if my skin were an IRL filter.—
Alyssa Morin,
InStyle,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Few industries are set to be as upended by AI as the spreadsheet-wrangling, PowerPoint presentation-polishing work done by Wall Street’s youngest bankers.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Lint-free cotton cloths are best for polishing and buffing silver flatware and serving pieces.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The bright and buoyant curls were all aughts and played well with the era’s shimmer and shine.—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
16 Feb. 2026
-
For balance, gluconolactone (a gentle PHA) and willow bark extract lightly exfoliate to keep pores clear, while witch hazel and tea tree help manage shine.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The jeans have slimming panels with a crisscross design that shape and support curves, while the high front waist smooths the tummy area.—
Melony Forcier,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Chocolate Ganache smoothed between layers of rich chocolate cake topped with Praline Frosting and a warm Bourbon Glaze make this recipe fit for special occasions.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His Davis, with short dark hair and a beard and a glint of dread in his eye, is edgy and preoccupied, maybe even a bit nervous.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The glint in the baby’s eyes is miraculous.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Over the decades the classic ski look has been complimented by Norwegian sweaters, glare-shunning sunglasses and furry boots.—
David G. Allan Feb 15,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
In the fluorescent glare of a rundown Indonesian wig factory, vats of human hair simmer in huge cauldrons, stirred by hunched laborers as rows of mannequin heads watch blankly from the dark.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnish. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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