burnish 1 of 2

noun

Definition of burnishnext
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 How to pronounce burnish (audio)
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
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
Doctor Who is a global brand that could burnish the resumé of a producer and potentially open other doors. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 11 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for burnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnish
  1. gleam
  2. rub
  3. glow
  4. polish
  5. shine
  6. smooth
  7. glint
  8. glare
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Tucuma-seed and buriti oils soften the skin and boost its radiance for a subtle, youthful gleam.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 17 July 2026
  • In other words, there is no recapturing the mythological—and curiously innocent—gleam of earlier World Cup eras.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
Definition of gleam
Verb
  • Use tweezers or a butter knife to rub over the seed head to scrape off any seeds that won’t fall off on their own.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Coat the exterior of the pork with 2 teaspoons salt and 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice, rubbing it into the meat.
    — Kate Williams, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of rub
Noun
  • Even Chalamet accepted money to do a commercial for prediction market Kalshi in the glow of his beloved New York Knicks winning the NBA championship.
    — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 31 July 2026
  • When only a small number of holes arrive from the infrared detector because of dim illumination or long-wavelength photons, they are all captured by the red layer, and the device emits a low-brightness red glow.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026
Definition of glow
Verb
  • This matching set from Amazon does exactly that, featuring a flattering high neckline and breezy cropped pants that are polished enough to wear straight from the airport to your destination.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 1 Aug. 2026
  • While a classic button-down shirt is always timeless, a peplum top offers the same wearability with a waist-defining silhouette that instantly polishes any bottom they’re paired with.
    — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of polish
Noun
  • Still, at a time when Marvel’s Hollywood dominance is waning, the series represented a welcome change in which the actor’s commanding, complicated performance shines.
    — Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Clean the leaves of your pothos plant to maintain their glossy shine.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of shine
Verb
  • Every instinct told me to step in, smooth it out, take some of the weight off.
    — Monica Cutia, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Brook actually recommends skipping volumizing sprays—which can make dense hair feel bulky—and instead smoothing a lightweight oil like Biolage All-In-One Multi-Benefit Oil through the lengths for shine and frizz control.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of smooth
Noun
  • Played with tricksy force and a glint of anger in her eyes by Samantha Morton, Circe is at the center of the greatest scene in The Odyssey, one that foregrounds the grandeur and uncanny qualities of myth.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 July 2026
  • When Prudhomme took on this job, Chirac was still French president and Instagram was a glint in the eye of its founder.
    — Andy McGrath, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of glint
Noun
  • There was no notion of beam pattern or glare control at first, just basic visibility in otherwise unlit environments.
    — Matthew MacConnell, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Totality reveals the solar corona — the sun’s outer atmosphere — normally hidden by its glare.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of glare

Browse Nearby Words

burning (up)
burnish
burnished
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Cite this Entry

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

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Nglish: Translation of burnish for Spanish Speakers

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