furbishing

verb

present participle of furbish
as in polishing
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 furbishing
  1. polishing
  2. rubbing
  3. smoothing
Verb
  • The investment of time and money put into excavating and polishing a skeleton such as Gus would not be possible, according to Hatton, without the prospect of a high-value sale.
    — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 13 July 2026
  • Rather than using a standard stonewash, TacticalGeek says the blade is hand-finished with sanding and polishing steps that refine the surface from coarse to fine, while the groove area uses EDM machining for extra texture and visual depth.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 July 2026
Definition of polishing
Verb
  • With eight goals and two assists so far this tournament, the GOAT will be rubbing his hands.
    — Mark Hodge, NBC news, 15 July 2026
  • For washable fabrics, avoid rubbing aggressively as this action can push the stain deeper into the material fibers.
    — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 13 July 2026
Definition of rubbing
Verb
  • This smoothing body treatment includes retinol to fight fine lines and wrinkles, shea butter for moisture, and vitamin C and E to protect against environmental factors that lead to signs of aging.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 18 July 2026
  • The new schedule aligns with the National Women’s Soccer League, smoothing the process for player loans.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 16 July 2026
Definition of smoothing
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

furbishes
furbishing
furies
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Cite this Entry

“Furbishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/furbishing. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on furbishing

Nglish: Translation of furbishing for Spanish Speakers

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