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
Kiana Siriwardene, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2025
Smart founders understand how a solid PR strategy can both burnish a brand’s image in the moment and establish its reputation over time.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
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
That has been changing as the country strives to burnish its image, rising in soft power rankings, with domestic businesses helping Beijing secure a significant facelift.
—Kiana Siriwardene, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2025
Smart founders understand how a solid PR strategy can both burnish a brand’s image in the moment and establish its reputation over time.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnish
Noun
-
Then buff the steel with a dry cloth, wiping in the same direction as the metal's grain to bring back that gleam.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Below, the Winged Victory gleams in the garden.—
Erica Wertheim Zohar,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Add a dab of liquid detergent to remaining stains and lightly rub it in.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The sports star shared another full-length shot of the couple — who currently reside in Oslo — with their arms around each other on the same white sands, while a third closer-up image showed the couple smiling and rubbing noses.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Inside Lenox, palm fronds throw shimmering shadows and rattan lampshades cast a lazy glow.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The center beam shows color and detail clearly, while the outer glow only catches movement.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
What color would the statue be if it were polished as envisioned?—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Lopez stepped out looking both cozy and polished in an oversized tailored and tied cream jacket and a slinky matching floor-length skirt.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, avocado, green tea, and sacha inchi oils nourish strands with rich moisture and smooth the cuticle for softness and shine.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
10 Sep. 2025
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The grittiness of this powder can cause the stone to lose its shine or have permanent scratches.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Personal communicators are wired to smooth things over.—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Aveda Hand Relief Moisturizing Crème gets it right with a rich yet fast-absorbing formula that pairs glycerin and aloe vera for lasting hydration, while exfoliating lactic acid gently smooths rough patches.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Top it off with a glint of silver.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The glint and thrum of Y2K aesthetics—as contrasted with the droning conservatism of the white-collar office—read as anticipatory rather than melancholic, looking toward a future liberated from systems of old.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Sidewalk glare to in-office fluorescents are no match for this mineral SPF 30 that delivers with a Swiss clock’s precision.—
Tanya Akim,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Apple has applied an anti-reflective coating to ward off glare to all of the new iPhones, while the S25 Ultra is the only S25 with that feature.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnish. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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