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
The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
Here, Roald Dahl’s classic 1970 children’s book of the same name becomes a deeply charming (and incredibly star-studded) stop-motion adventure, bathed from top to toe in the reds, golds, and burnished oranges of fall.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2025
The incredible landscape is blanketed by deciduous forests, which are burnished with color in autumn.
—Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025
The result is a resurgence that has burnished nitrous’s longtime reputation among users as a cheap, easy high — and one that has leaked out of concert parking lots and into the mainstream.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
Like all good bistros, this one serves a roast chicken as burnished as a penny, uncharacteristically earthy and sweet thanks to the funky, flavor-intensifying power of koji.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
Here, Roald Dahl’s classic 1970 children’s book of the same name becomes a deeply charming (and incredibly star-studded) stop-motion adventure, bathed from top to toe in the reds, golds, and burnished oranges of fall.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2025
The incredible landscape is blanketed by deciduous forests, which are burnished with color in autumn.
—Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025
The result is a resurgence that has burnished nitrous’s longtime reputation among users as a cheap, easy high — and one that has leaked out of concert parking lots and into the mainstream.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnished
Adjective
-
Inside, the brand’s iconic satin Aetherna finish creates a play of light and shadow, On the outside, a polished gold edge accentuates the three-dimensionality of the shapes, which embrace a luminous diamond.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
According to Pinterest’s 2025 Fall Trends Report, searches for preppy staples are skyrocketing as folks embrace this polished aesthetic.—
Francesca Krempa,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Freeland agreed with Doyle that the negative coverage has rubbed some players the wrong way.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Vähäsarja vigorously rubbed some cups on Landers’s back—cupping creates a vacuum and stimulates blood flow—and turned the whole thing bright pink.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The ridiculously nourishing formula leaves you glistening but never greasy, with the coconut, açai, and brazil nut oils restoring suppleness to a level that pleased our testers as much as its tropical, coconutty scent and mess-free pump.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
What can any of us make of our momentary intimate lives in such an immense world, with equally immense unknowns, mysteries as great as death or the whale, as deep as love or the ocean, as sad and beautiful as a jellyfish torn and glistening in a small fortress of shore rock?—
Natalie Diaz
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Doctors sawed off part of the bone, smoothed and flattened the rest and closed the wound with skin and soft tissue.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Card networks and domestic wallet apps have smoothed many edges, yet many of those wallets still use the same traditional systems.—
Alvin Kan,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Beneath the surface of this glossy novel is a heartfelt depiction of the obstacles aspirant writers face in trying to both produce and publish.—
Susan Coll
September 12,
Literary Hub,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Rather than relying solely on glossy imagery or abstract measurements, its website takes a consumer-first approach.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Cracker Barrel unveiled a sleek new logo this summer.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Though the contemporary design is undeniably sleek, the sofa is also ideal for everyday needs.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Those are coated in Ghost Pepper dry rub.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The Blue Ribbon Apple Pie Doughnut comes with an apple cinnamon filling, caramel icing, cinnamon cookie crumbs and white drizzle, while the Caramel Churro Doughnut is coated in cinnamon sugar and topped with caramel icing.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Pop a satin version on top of your usual night-out curls to make the 'do feel glamorous.—
Jasmine Washington,
Seventeen,
18 Jan. 2023
-
From satin pillowcases to a hydrating moisturizer, all of these products are on sale for less than $25.—
Isabel Garcia,
Peoplemag,
13 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Burnished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnished. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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