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
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Still, like the other AI founders snapping up New York’s biggest and snazziest spaces, Gates may see a brick-and-mortar office as a way to burnish her company’s reputation or, in the language of Silicon Valley, court new investments.
—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
4 June 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
Trump has mentioned renaming his hometown station in his honor as he's sought to burnish his legacy through public works projects, from a massive new ballroom at the White House to a triumphal arch leading into the nation's capital.
—
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Still, like the other AI founders snapping up New York’s biggest and snazziest spaces, Gates may see a brick-and-mortar office as a way to burnish her company’s reputation or, in the language of Silicon Valley, court new investments.
—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for burnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnish
Noun
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Then buff the steel with a dry cloth, wiping in the same direction as the metal's grain to bring back that gleam.
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After a while, though, all the professions of sincerity and thanks, the constant invocations of the one true POTUS, and the worshipful exhibits upstairs give the whole place a cultish, nostalgic gleam.
Verb
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But the quiet-part-out-loud here is that the Duffer Brothers ditching Netflix for a four-year deal at Paramount seems to have rubbed high-ranking Netflix executives the wrong way, the first source told THR.
-
According to police, Foulke, Acrey and Millevoix encountered a man and woman waiting for a ride-share outside when one of the three rubbed their knuckles across a man's head.
Noun
-
Like the living room, the bedroom is painted the same flat white but the quality of the eastern light filtering into the bedroom casts a buttery glow.
-
By the end of the movie, even something as natural as daylight has become suffused with a heavenly glow, and the beads of sweat on a dying body sparkle with a beauty that Emily had never been able to find anywhere else in her tragedy of a life.
Verb
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For dressier occasions, platform sandals like Martha Stewart's go-to style offer comfort, support, and polish all in one.
-
Through processing that polishes the individual wool fibers, the technology allows wool to have more luster, a softer hand feel, drape and elastic recovery.
Noun
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Estée Lauder's Double Wear Stay-in-Place Matte Powder Foundation offers buildable coverage in a velvet-soft formula that blurs the look of pores, keeps shine in check, and never feels cakey.
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Or a cartoony hamburger that is doing a little too much — the cheese drip a little too textured, the shine on the bun a little uncanny.
Verb
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The formula uses argan oil, amino acids, and keratin-like proteins to smooth split ends, strengthen the cuticle, and boost shine.
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If wrinkles and uneven skin texture are a concern, Korean serums can help smooth your complexion.
Noun
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The rest of the meeting had that politicians’ glint to it as Warsh cleared room to maneuver.
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Our goal is to elicit that glint of recognition in another human being because something that felt good and true to us feels good and true to them at the same time.
Noun
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The openings in the blinds' slats can be adjusted to give you custom control of glare, light, and heat.
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And these were just the animals and machines trying to do you in, not to mention the glare of the sun, the Feds, or some bad-seed trimmer with a crush or a death wish.
Cite this Entry
“Burnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnish. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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