as in rubs
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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Recent Examples of burnishes
At a time when Erdogan is struggling to resolve the country's growing economic problems, responding to Netanyahu's statements harshly scores points domestically and burnishes his strong leader image.
—
Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
The contract, further enmeshing JPMorgan with a dominant tech player, burnishes the bank’s reputation as a leader in American finance.
—Hugh Son,leslie Picker,laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 7 Jan. 2026
Unconcerned by matters like health insurance and 401(k) contributions, her presence burnishes the reputation of the magazine as an arbiter of good taste.
—New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In exchange, the company burnishes its halo of high-mindedness, receives the right to feature famous works on its T-shirts, and gets to stage events in empty galleries or under an iconic glass pyramid, furthering the idea that its interests lie in Life as much as in Wear.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
The contract, further enmeshing JPMorgan with a dominant tech player, burnishes the bank’s reputation as a leader in American finance.
—Hugh Son,leslie Picker,laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 7 Jan. 2026
Unconcerned by matters like health insurance and 401(k) contributions, her presence burnishes the reputation of the magazine as an arbiter of good taste.
—New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In exchange, the company burnishes its halo of high-mindedness, receives the right to feature famous works on its T-shirts, and gets to stage events in empty galleries or under an iconic glass pyramid, furthering the idea that its interests lie in Life as much as in Wear.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnishes
Verb
-
The plastic bristles coax out loose hair as your cat rubs against it.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
-
Expect wagyu brisket, lemon-zested ribs and rubs with hints of curry or tandoori.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Expect to see even tinier dots and minuscule French tips atop jelly polishes in summery shades like fuchsia and blood orange.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
4 June 2026
-
Sheer jelly polishes create a seamless ombré effect.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Its main ingredient, chebula, is a potent antioxidant that smooths and brightens skin.—
Christina Butan,
InStyle,
8 June 2026
-
Medium compression smooths the waist, hips, and thighs, while a pull-aside gusset simplifies bathroom breaks.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
But the film shines a light on the underrecognized effort to gather weather data, the importance of paying attention to what the evidence showed, and the very little that separated success and defeat that day.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
29 May 2026
-
Your generous spirit shines brighter with boundaries that keep your offerings sustainable.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burnishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnishes. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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