as in polished
having a shiny surface or finish
bright burnished metal is used extensively in that boutique's decor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in rubbed
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
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Recent Examples of burnished
Amisha Gurbani, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Apr. 2026
Instead of needing to overcome the one-time stigma of tiny Gonzaga, Lloyd enjoyed a burnished reputation, having spent so much time with inarguably one of the standard bearers of the sport.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
In contrast, with a GLP-1, people might be more inclined to take them because of their burnished reputation.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026
Stock up on lumbar and throw pillows with geometric motifs and flannel and denim bedding, burnished brass, and suede elements.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
His voice sounds burnished and vital, never tired.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
Decked with cashmere curtains and burnished-leather bed frames, the guest rooms offer breathtaking mountain views and Western authenticity.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Warmer, more distinctive finishes such as burnished brass, bronze, and mixed materials are replacing matte black.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
Mango Luisa Penny Loafer The Mango Luisa Penny Loafers put a refined spin on the wardrobe classic thanks to the burnished leather and moc-toe silhouette that’s polished and effortless.
—Olivia Dubyak, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
Dade Hayes, Deadline, 7 June 2026
The Tigers have only burnished their resume with impressive back-to-back playoff victories.
—Martin Henderson, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
The dark, burnished stew smelled faintly sweet.
—Restaurant Critic, Houston Chronicle, 6 May 2026
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
The rapper Jack Harlow burnished his artsy bona fides by logging slightly more interesting picks than expected.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Pakistan’s credentials have been burnished, too.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 9 Apr. 2026
Millions of Monarchs hang from the trees like frostbitten leaves the underside of their wings exposed, burnished, and bronzed.
—Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Unlike traditional cheesecake, which is baked low and slow in a water bath for a smooth, dense finish, Basque cheesecake embraces rustic charm with a burnished top, cracks and all.
—Amisha Gurbani, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Apr. 2026
Instead of needing to overcome the one-time stigma of tiny Gonzaga, Lloyd enjoyed a burnished reputation, having spent so much time with inarguably one of the standard bearers of the sport.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
In contrast, with a GLP-1, people might be more inclined to take them because of their burnished reputation.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026
Stock up on lumbar and throw pillows with geometric motifs and flannel and denim bedding, burnished brass, and suede elements.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
His voice sounds burnished and vital, never tired.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
Decked with cashmere curtains and burnished-leather bed frames, the guest rooms offer breathtaking mountain views and Western authenticity.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Warmer, more distinctive finishes such as burnished brass, bronze, and mixed materials are replacing matte black.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
Mango Luisa Penny Loafer The Mango Luisa Penny Loafers put a refined spin on the wardrobe classic thanks to the burnished leather and moc-toe silhouette that’s polished and effortless.
—Olivia Dubyak, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
Verb
Ted Lasso and The Studio have also burnished the tech giant’s Emmy trophy shelf, taking home Best Comedy Series trophies.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 7 June 2026
The Tigers have only burnished their resume with impressive back-to-back playoff victories.
—Martin Henderson, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
The dark, burnished stew smelled faintly sweet.
—Restaurant Critic, Houston Chronicle, 6 May 2026
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
The rapper Jack Harlow burnished his artsy bona fides by logging slightly more interesting picks than expected.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Pakistan’s credentials have been burnished, too.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 9 Apr. 2026
Millions of Monarchs hang from the trees like frostbitten leaves the underside of their wings exposed, burnished, and bronzed.
—Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnished
Adjective
-
Behind the polished facade of creator campaigns sits a workflow that is still largely manual.—
Vivian Toh,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
For example, using geometry and the longitudinal position of the home, the team angled the awning over the windows in the main living space so shade falls in front of the house in summer and moves deep into the living area in winter to heat the polished concrete floor.—
Noah Daly,
Idaho Statesman,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Chemical filters, such as avobenzone, octocrylene and homosalate, appear clear when rubbed on the skin but sometimes feel oily.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
9 June 2026
-
The good times keep rolling through the commercial breaks, as A-listers rubbed elbows, and at the afterparties, where the big stars enjoyed burgers from Shake Shack and got their drink on.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Glazed butter is a trend that combines the stunning shade with a chrome topper for a glistening look that's good enough to eat.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
11 June 2026
-
Beef cheeks and tongues, Frenched racks of lamb, glistening hams, poulet de Bresse, and rabbits still with their heads, round eyes blinkless under long lashes frozen in the ice.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Inside the cage was a mouse—the mouse that Renova had significantly smoothed—eliciting a few gasps from nearby assistants.—
William Norwich,
Vogue,
12 June 2026
-
Ahead of opening arguments, Rinderknecht smoothed back his hair, and Haney helped adjust his tie before giving him a pat on the back.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
That likely means the luxury finishings, leather seats and glossy wood paneling will remain intact.—
Arden Farhi,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
In 2019, Bankoff made a deal with New York owner Pamela Wasserstein, whose family had owned the glossy magazine for 15 years, to add the publication and digital offshots like entertainment vertical Vulture and fashion brand The Cut to the Vox portfolio.—
Erik Hayden,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Shrimp become juicy and sweet, zucchini and carrots are crisp-tender, and everything is nicely coated in the bright lemon pepper seasoning.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 June 2026
-
The brand is also introducing a new category called Dunked, featuring tenders, wings, and sandwiches coated in sauce for a bold, flavor-forward experience.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Flexibility and a glove-like fit make these Italian leather flats mold gently to your foot while keeping a sleek profile.—
Paris Wilson,
Travel + Leisure,
14 June 2026
-
While these sleek sandals have a similar square-toe shape as the above pair, the chain detailing along the upper strap is smaller and narrower.—
Olivia Dubyak,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
Under his meticulous care, the gleaming red sports car has been souped up to generate 400-horsepower turbo performance, but retains much of the original features and feel.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The trailer features stunning images of the massive gleaming white cube that was the centerpiece of the staging and Instagram-worthy shots of the pryo and special effects that made the tour a must-see for fans.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
10 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burnished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnished. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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