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
Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
Can Beijing use the incident to burnish its image as an alternative global power?
—Kerry E. Ratigan, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 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
Even as the criminal case moves forward, the Duong family has taken steps to publicly burnish its image.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
Can Beijing use the incident to burnish its image as an alternative global power?
—Kerry E. Ratigan, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 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
-
After Landfair climbed into Kelly’s lap and rubbed his head — following the precise instructions Sparkle had given her — Kelly eagerly accepted her innocent request.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
-
But this one in particular rubbed him the wrong way.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Hop in a kayak to catch a glimpse of the enchanting, blue-green glow of the Bioluminescent Bay (which claims to have the brightest bioluminescence in the world), sunbathe on Vieques’s pristine beaches, or marvel at the wild horses that roam around the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge.—
Brittany Chang,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Best Clothing Deals Airport outfits just got a glow-up.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Our editors’ favorite work bags have earned their place in our daily rotations, designed with durability and style in mind, and polished enough to go wherever the day takes us.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Its sleek vegan leather design looks polished enough for sightseeing days and casual dinners alike.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Hoyos added how the technology provides a solution to the brands that have shied away from Tencel in the past due to its high shine quality.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Swap out your regular white French tip for gold chrome to get a pop of shine and shimmer that can't be beat.—
Odeya Pinkus,
InStyle,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Contour seams enhance lifting, smoothing and comfortable compression.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Two stagehands were smoothing the surface with bladed scrapers.—
Bob Morris,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Aaron Taylor-Johnson has the appropriate glint in his eye.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Williams showed up first, his white Giorgio Armani tuxedo accented by a glint of shining diamonds at the neck.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Under the roof — with the glare gone, the temperature easing across the third and fourth sets and the radiated heat from the court plummeting — the momentum swung.—
John Pye,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Originally a bright photography studio with skylights, the room was transformed into a low-light space to eliminate glare on the digital screens and Wacom tablets used for ZBrush sculpting.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnish. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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