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
Olivia Dubyak, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
The ground crunches on my morning walks, carpeted in burnished leaves the same colors of the hearts of flames.
—Morgan Lockhart, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
Fimognari, who’s shot most of Mike Flanagan’s considerably darker-toned projects, eschews the usual overbright Christmas comedy aesthetic for a burnished veneer.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
The space features details in burnished brass and canaletto walnut, which are intended to complement the Luxury Leisurewear offering.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2025
Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Some of the patties come with laminated Haitian-style casements that are burnished in a deep fryer.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
There’s no British Tan burnished leather or stacked foam soles.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 16 Dec. 2025
Oak planks burnished, bleached, and faded over decades.
—Helen Molesworth, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025
Joe Roth, who’d taken the reins at Fox, burnished his run by swooping in and keeping the film’s production start back on track.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2025
Buildings tower and gleam as if burnished by the money flowing through them — none more so than the thrumming heart of Shanghai’s nightlife, Huanghe Road, a teeming swathe of high-end restaurants (a stretch of which Wong and his team recreated to scale).
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Nov. 2025
The distant portraits looked smooth and burnished, and the memorial’s granite seemed as strong as the foundations of our republic.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
His experiences amid the Soviet Union’s death throes burnished the impression that every nation must forge its own path distinct from cookie-cutter dogma.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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
The ground crunches on my morning walks, carpeted in burnished leaves the same colors of the hearts of flames.
—Morgan Lockhart, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
Fimognari, who’s shot most of Mike Flanagan’s considerably darker-toned projects, eschews the usual overbright Christmas comedy aesthetic for a burnished veneer.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
The space features details in burnished brass and canaletto walnut, which are intended to complement the Luxury Leisurewear offering.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
Dubai’s reputation as a paradise for sun-seekers and digital nomads has been burnished on TikTok and Instagram, and in recent years the UAE has sought to formalize content creation as a profession, bringing it into the fold of its economic transformation drive.
—Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Some of the patties come with laminated Haitian-style casements that are burnished in a deep fryer.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
There’s no British Tan burnished leather or stacked foam soles.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 16 Dec. 2025
Oak planks burnished, bleached, and faded over decades.
—Helen Molesworth, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025
Joe Roth, who’d taken the reins at Fox, burnished his run by swooping in and keeping the film’s production start back on track.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2025
Buildings tower and gleam as if burnished by the money flowing through them — none more so than the thrumming heart of Shanghai’s nightlife, Huanghe Road, a teeming swathe of high-end restaurants (a stretch of which Wong and his team recreated to scale).
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Nov. 2025
The distant portraits looked smooth and burnished, and the memorial’s granite seemed as strong as the foundations of our republic.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
His experiences amid the Soviet Union’s death throes burnished the impression that every nation must forge its own path distinct from cookie-cutter dogma.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnished
Adjective
-
The prose looks polished, charts look clean, and a single percentage point buried in the model quietly pushes the decision in a different direction.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Like Coleman, Boston’s size (6-4, 210) and physicality enable him to win more than his fair share of jump balls, but the Huskie wideout is also a polished route-runner, especially on slants and comebacks.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Bulldog or border collie, barking or getting its belly rubbed, a dog can be many things while still remaining a dog.—
Ben Brubaker,
Quanta Magazine,
7 Jan. 2026
-
William and Kate being so involved in what happened with Andrew reportedly rubbed Queen Camilla the wrong way.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The glistening, glowy finish is what enhances your makeup’s longevity and keeps it locked in place for hours.—
Michelle Baricevic,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Everton’s glistening new stadium may come with a global beer sponsor, but their first game of the New Year there was utterly sobering.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As a result, the structure gradually collapsed and was smoothed to become almost flat by water currents.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Alas, these brands already did the heavy lifting, delivering formulas that immediately smoothed and over time improved the delicate skin's texture.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
29 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Grande wore a glossy pink shade on her lips, sculpted cheeks with subtle shimmer, and long lashes.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Sylist Renato Campora used the continuous Marcel wave technique, tucking under her ends and creating a glossy, frozen finish.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike traditional cast-iron skillets, this one is coated in a black satin enamel that prevents food from sticking to the bottom, resists rust, and doesn’t require seasoning or regular upkeep.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Meet the expert Backstage at Anna Sui, models’ lashes were coated in layers of turquoise mascara, while at The Blonds, models sported dramatic, feathery falsies saturated in a shade of shocking pink.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The clean double-breasted buttons instantly add elegance to your airport outfit, especially when paired with a matching Amazon Essentials Turtleneck and sleek black Libin Wide-leg Dress Pants to keep you warm and comfortable from takeoff to arrival.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Take a cue from Nicole Kidman and swap bulky trainers for a sleeker option that styles effortlessly from the plane to wherever the day takes you.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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 15 Jan. 2026.
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