as in to polish
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
the warrior furbished his sword and shield so that they glinted in the sunlight
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for furbish
Verb
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No one is competing for attention—the aesthetic leans East Coast understated luxury, with linen sets, oversized sun hats, and Hermès slides rather than logo-forward designer pieces—but most guests dress just polished enough to match the surrounding setting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026 -
Make sure to use high-quality silver polish to avoid damaging it and have fine scratches removed, but be sure not to over-polish it.—
Kylie Petty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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An effort is underway to ensure people aren't being rubbed the wrong way in the Northern California city of Citrus Heights.—
James Taylor,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
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To make the post more appealing to your cat, rub catnip on it or apply a cat pheromone product.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Her long-term commitment to Ukrainian poetry shows in the precision and restraint of the English versions, which preserve Malihon’s tonal shifts without smoothing their rawness.—
Alex Averbuch,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
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The beach was filled with stones that had been smoothed to perfect ovals and circles by thousands of years of being tossed by the sea, some gray and striated with pure white, and others that when wet were the color of emeralds.—
Nicole Krauss,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Furbish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/furbish. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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