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
-
The Seleção has found a highly polished style of play that carried it to the 2025 UEFA Nations League title.—
Esteban Campanela,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
-
Style this blouse with wide-leg pants for dinner reservations, historical site visits, theater outings, or any occasion that calls for a more polished dress code.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
The reef fish was often rubbed with salt and mixed with seaweed and a traditional candlenut relish called inamona.—
Sylvie Bigar,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
And that really rubbed committee members last cycle the wrong way and may have worked against them.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Lopez paired the perfect party dress with matching drop sparkly earrings and strappy sandals that also featured glistening sparkle details.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
6 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
-
Fortunately, just then, Marijan entered the living room, with her hair smoothed down and her makeup reapplied, wearing a hand-stitched abaya from Mecca.—
Jamil Jan Kochai,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Lackey’s early endorsement of the bill smoothed a legislative effort that could have gotten complicated, Bryan said.—
Andrew Graham
May 28,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Michigan has banned the import of six invasive plant species, writes the Detroit Free Press, including the Callery pear tree, glossy buckthorn, common buckthorn and Japanese barberry.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Lopez pulled out her signature glam for the evening, highlighting her features with smoky eyeshadow, a glossy nude lip, and sculpted cheekbones.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Next, mosquitoes were given a choice between two human hands − one untreated and one coated with DEET at normal concentrations.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
Bathrooms are coated with marble and feature a tub and shower, both stocked with Diptyque toiletries in pump bottles and bath salts with loofahs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Michelle Pfeiffer wears a sleek black pantsuit at IndieWire TV Honors 2026 on June 4 in Los Angeles.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
-
With sleek designs, easy-to-use functionality, and options for the whole family, iTouch Wearables blends fashion and technology at accessible prices, perfect for life on the go.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 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 9 Jun. 2026.
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