BURNISHED Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

burnished 1 of 2

adjective

as in polished

having a shiny surface or finish bright burnished metal is used extensively in that boutique's decor

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

burnished

2 of 2

verb

past tense of burnish

as in rubbed

to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure burnished the floor of the ballroom to a soft luster

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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 burnished

Adjective

One imagines her sweeping through arched thresholds, the click-clack of heels echoing across the burnished parquet, or presiding over feasts at the baronial dining table. — Donna Hardie-Scott, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Olive trees, desiccated from the Xylella fastidiosa bacterial epidemic, are consumed by fire and slump to the ground in a burnished black heap. — Angelica Calabrese, Longreads, 7 July 2026 The burnished shade is chic and head-turning, an ideal choice for those who prefer to stand out— seemingly without any effort. — Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 17 June 2026 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

Verb

The agreement is a boost for President William Ruto, who has burnished his ties with Western leaders, and made local processing of resources a key plank in his bid for a second term in next year’s election. — semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026 The high note Giuliani left office on — after mulling avenues to stay in office past the limitation — burnished his public profile with lucrative results, said his 1993 campaign press secretary Ken Frydman. — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026 The Musk Myth How Hollywood burnished the entrepreneur’s image as a benevolent genius. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 These 800-square-foot homes are equal parts burnished and natural, spacious with an open-plan bedroom, living room, dining room, bathroom with soaking tub, and an oversized deck that is eye-level with the birds. — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnished

Adjective

What’s now a polished lodge—two- and three-story wings along the shoreline, fishing boats named Eel Grass and Sea Wolf docked out front—was a defunct forestry homestead when the Nation bought it.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026
The polished yet relaxed styling put a fresh spin on one of fall’s most timeless footwear staples — and marked a stylish switch-up for the princess.

— Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of polished

Verb

Hollidge and Eshaghpour were captivated by Frank’s use of straw, which becomes more or less lustrous depending on how hard it’s rubbed (bringing out the material’s natural silica) and can be dyed to achieve different hues.

— Jill Singer, Curbed, 23 Sep. 2026
The tacos feature za’atar rubbed swordfish kissed by a wood-burning grill, dabbed with tangy pools of labne and a salsa arabe, similar to harissa.

— The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of rubbed

Adjective

Retailing for $1,170, the all-black style featured glistening satin black uppers that transitioned into open, rounded toes with thick straps.

— Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2026
In some memes in recent weeks, the photo has become so over-edited that the character's glistening face is slicker, darker and even more uncanny.

— Owen Carry, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of glistening

Verb

Facilities that once smoothed a few weeks of timing now sometimes carry a portfolio for months, occasionally across an entire fundraising cycle.

— Peter Doyle, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Attendees posed for selfies with our supermodel cover stars Anok Yai and Alex Consani, got their curls refreshed with Wella Professionals, and had their foreheads smoothed at VIP neuromodulator appointments.

— Jennet Jusu, Allure, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of smoothed

Verb

Ultrathin layer forms stronger protection The team also coated the structured copper foil with an MXene layer roughly 10 nanometers thick.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026
Jewelry sat on and among a sink, chair, cabinet, artist easel, and smaller domestic objects coated in the blue carving wax Vernon uses in the workshop.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of coated

Adjective

However, all are generously sized and sleek, with bright white bedding accented with pops of stately blue, silver and hot pink.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
And the sleek Schmiede version encompasses all the Nugget's best attributes – three-room design, available rear toilet and available all-wheel drive.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of sleek

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

Definition of gleaming

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“Burnished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnished. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of burnished

adjective

verb

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