Synonyms of burnishing

burnishing

verb

present participle of burnish

as in polishing

to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure

burnished the floor of the ballroom to a soft luster

Synonyms & Similar Words

• polishing
• rubbing
• smoothing
• shining
• scrubbing
• buffing
• glossing
• coating
• grinding
• scraping
• dressing
• furbishing
• finishing
• sanding
• smoothening
• glazing
• varnishing
• filing
• slicking
• japanning
• bobbing
• brightening
• lacquering
• veneering
• facing
• sandblasting
• sleeking
• scouring
• sandpapering
• lapping
• boning
• rasping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ruffling
• roughing (up)
• scuffing (up)
• roughening

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of burnishing

And at a moment when the US is antagonizing allies and has yet to find a way to end its war on Iran that’s destabilizing the global economy, Xi has been burnishing China’s image as a responsible and dependable global leader. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026

The Obama Presidential Center opening June 18 also bodes well for tourism, both in burnishing the city’s image and creating a new attraction to draw domestic and international visitors to Chicago, Reynolds said. — Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026

Murdaugh’s father, a grandfather and a great-grandfather were each elected as top prosecutors in the region, burnishing a family reputation that eventually crumbled. — Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 13 May 2026

Shapiro brushed off questions — and Republican criticism — about burnishing his credentials for a White House run. — CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026

He became known for poaching clients, extracting heroic sums for their work, and burnishing their reputations abroad. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026

Meghan signed with talent agency WME in April 2023, in hopes of burnishing her profile in the business. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026

And Willard’s overt emphasis on velocity led to serious gains in Boston, with the Red Sox burnishing their reputation for pitching development during his two years there. — Tim Britton, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026

The legacy of the Milan Cortina Winter Games is both physical, in new facilities and infrastructure, and intangible, burnishing Milan’s global image. — Colleen Barry, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026