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
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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
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
The surface appears slightly mottled or burnished, giving it the feel of something that’s been hand-made and used for years.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2026
The foothills in the distance become burnished in the golden hour’s fading light.
—Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
The moment burnished the image Clinton was trying to build as someone who was willing to stand up to the party’s special interests and most loyal voting base.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 17 Feb. 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
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
The surface appears slightly mottled or burnished, giving it the feel of something that’s been hand-made and used for years.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2026
The foothills in the distance become burnished in the golden hour’s fading light.
—Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
The moment burnished the image Clinton was trying to build as someone who was willing to stand up to the party’s special interests and most loyal voting base.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnished
Adjective
-
The result will leave strands looking glossy and polished.—
Diana Tsui,
Footwear News,
3 May 2026
-
Poured terrazzo floors and rich hardwood run throughout, punctuated by polished concrete and expert millwork.—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Justin Brazeau skated over to the Penguins captain and rubbed the back of his noggin for good measure.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Kuroda mentioned other small incidents that rubbed him the wrong way as well.—
Robert McGreevy,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The entry foyer, with its vaulted ceiling and glistening floor, is welcoming and impressive.—
James Alexander,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
The simple gym room is equipped with an elliptical, a couple treadmills, and weight-lifting systems, all with views of a glistening tributary of the Cubango River that flows through the property.—
Samantha Falewée,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Once it’s smoothed, lay a heavy object on the area for some time to anchor the vinyl back in place.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The result is smoothed cuticles and split ends, with a soft to the touch feel.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Silky cubes of tofu and tender ground pork in a glossy sauce with a subtle heat, more driven by black pepper than the lurid red chilis that swam alongside.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
-
After New Year’s our mother dumps it, with all the glossy families and chirpy letters, in the trash.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
An astounding 500 to 1,000 nails are used on each piece, which is coated with the signature canvas.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
6 May 2026
-
Moss, sticks and other debris floated in the water while the South Sawyer Glacier, usually brilliant blue, was coated in a layer of dust.—
Megan I. Gannon,
Scientific American,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
There is The Portrait’s sleek modern lines with industrial influences.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
Housed in the sleek, minimalist 40 mm case of its award-winning Streamliner, the piece pairs genuine mechanical ingenuity with a retro refit of one of sneaker culture’s most recognizable innovations.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
2 May 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 May. 2026.
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