BURNISH Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

burnish 1 of 2

noun

Definition of burnish

as in gleam

brightness created by light reflected from a surface after some much-needed polishing, the silver tea set had a brilliant burnish

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

burnish

2 of 2

verb

ˈbər-nish

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of burnish

Noun

Fretting that the fabled bash was losing its luster, Guiducci ordered up some major burnishes. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026 The storytelling has an unfussy classical burnish that feels nicely scaled to its time and place. — Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2023

Verb

Related Stories Its latest promotional effort aims to burnish its offerings to every New Yorker. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026 Doctor Who is a global brand that could burnish the résumé of a producer and potentially open other doors. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for burnish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnish

Noun

Many of us were not a gleam in our parents’ eyes when Monterey Pop took place.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026
Related Stories Cruise, declaiming every line, acting with blind bluster and a mean gleam of good-ol’-boy joy, makes Digger a walking cartoon — a larger-than-life satire of over-the-top American arrogance, like LBJ crossed with Foghorn Leghorn.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of gleam

Noun

What sets this story apart, Nakajima says, is that Nobita, a human, ends up beneath the waves because he was bathed in the glow of the Adaptation Ray.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
Every nightfall is different — different seasonal colors, angels, weather, celestial glows, grasses and shadows.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of glow

Verb

Each refillable case secures with a satisfying magnetic closure, and is polished with an alabaster finish.

— Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
These natural diamonds are often cloudy and oddly shaped, and lose about 25% of their weight as they're cut and polished into what a jeweler would sell, according to Nathan Renfro, senior manager at the Gemological Institute of America.

— LAURA TURBAY, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of polish

Verb

The batteries smooth the load and help optimize fuel consumption.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
The project is predicated on the theme that the title suggests — love of self, love of others, love for her daughter Hazel — while embracing a swath of styles spanning quiet storm to smooth, finger-snapped R&B.

— Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of smooth

Noun

And because water and most other liquids can’t persist on a planet’s surface without an insulating blanket of air, seeing such a glint could signal the presence of an atmosphere as well.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
Now that the greige days are finally behind us, a glint of sparkle truly delights.

— Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of glint

Noun

Except in large telescopes, the satellites might be lost in the glare of the bright lunar crescent just prior to disappearing behind the moon, but their emergence from behind the Moon's dark side should be especially dramatic.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Even in blazing sunlight, the screen cuts right through the glare without washing out.

— Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of glare

Browse Nearby Words

burning (up)

burnish

burnished

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“Burnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnish. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of burnish

noun

verb

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