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
Relevance
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
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
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
Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Wilson burnished his Hall of Fame resume with the Seattle Seahawks.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 1 May 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
The war has widely been viewed has having burnished Beijing’s global standing, positioning China as a cornerstone of stability.
—Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Wilson burnished his Hall of Fame resume with the Seattle Seahawks.
—Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for burnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnish
Noun
-
Biscan suggests benefiting from the gleam and dimension of iridescence while opting for the sophistication of marble and marble-look tiles.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2026
-
The chef Eric Ripert and his partner, Maguy Le Coze, understand that space and time are as much luxuries as the commitment to craft and decades of dedication that give each plate here a consummate gleam.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Use this solution to blot the top layer of the mattress, trying to moisten and gently rub versus soak the mattress.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
-
The plastic bristles coax out loose hair as your cat rubs against it.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
In the home, a pearl-toned aesthetic creates a luminous glow that mimics the gem's bright shimmer.—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
15 May 2026
-
Trump is basking in the glow of a high-profile summit with Xi.—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Plenty of people already use AI to polish text in emails or other documents before sending them, and this is essentially the same thing for voice input.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
12 May 2026
-
Something about a summer ceremony invites fun into a potentially formal dress code—your attire should be polished, yes, but can lean playful and bright.—
Sarah Zendejas,
Vogue,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Rai is the only player on the PGA Tour who wears two black weatherproof rain gloves, rain or shine, May or November, instead of one traditional white leather glove on the nondominant hand.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
The embellished design features an array of glittery gems and ombré crystals scattered across the slim straps, giving the shoes a jewel-like shine and more of a show girl-worthy dazzle.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
For now, the Dolphins believe Proctor playing guard not only helps the Dolphins field their five best linemen, but also will smooth his transition to the NFL.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
-
His expression smoothed itself out.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
In his work exist iconic signs of beloved local establishments — like the Playpen — the blinding glint reflecting off downtown’s skyline, telephone poles regarded as totems.—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The bright glint to the left is Venus.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Because a bright sky helps subdue Venus's glare, this is a good time to inspect the planet telescopically, though its gibbous disk remains rather small and approximately seven-eighths illuminated.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
-
But only briefly; the glare returned in a flash.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnish. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
