1
as in facade
a deceptively attractive external appearance
used a computer to give her astrological predictions the gloss of real science
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in gleam
brightness created by light reflected from a surface
the surface has such a high gloss, you can see your face reflected in it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to polish
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
the action of the water will serve to gloss the seal's coat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of gloss
Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 15 Apr. 2026
There’s no gloss, and people love it.
—Marcus Mumford, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Critchley, glossing Julian of Norwich, draws a distinction between seeing and seeing through creation, but this is a false dichotomy.
—Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gloss
Noun
While Calderone leans across her oxblood lacquer island in the April issue and embraces high-gloss ceilings in the media room of her Tribeca apartment, this month Grattan stands commandingly before a parrot green lacquer frame that merges with its equally colorful surroundings.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 15 Apr. 2026
There’s no gloss, and people love it.
—Marcus Mumford, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
Mama winds through the labyrinth of shelves, smiling when her fingers gloss the gold spine of a good read, the same way my hand slides over Angelou’s book.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Critchley, glossing Julian of Norwich, draws a distinction between seeing and seeing through creation, but this is a false dichotomy.
—Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gloss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gloss
Noun
-
While Metcalf’s Linda adopts a facade of stoicism to shield her family from the grief erupting in her, Abbott’s Biff is forced to reveal the broken man behind the defiant veneer.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The southern façade, for instance, is entirely solid—no windows, no openings—to shield the interior from the most brutal solar rays.—
Nick Mafi,
Architectural Digest,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Plus, avocado oil provides heat protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, while a blend of sunflower oil, hemisqualane, and squalane hydrate the hair for a healthy gleam.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Around the corner is Alexander Calder’s 1964 fountain Three Quintains (Hello Girls), which has been lovingly restored and gleams in the early morning light.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That means steep hills, slick cobblestones, long outdoor lunches, golden-hour strolls, late-night cocktails, and somehow still looking polished through all of it.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Why had someone polished smooth one of the crania and decorated another with a pattern of scratch marks?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Each one features expansive picture windows or a private terrace and is decked out with leathers, wood veneers, and marbles.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Comedians like Short may maintain an unphasable veneer but often, a well of intention and intelligence lies beneath.—
Madeleine Janz,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This provided a comfort blanket and a lead that Chelsea and Liverpool, unable to shift the glare of scrutiny away from themselves, couldn’t replicate.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
But noise, as well as glare, are typically buffered with vegetative landscaping and setbacks, or the distance between the property line and the nearest structure.—
Anna Clark,
ProPublica,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Until sound effects, tones, and grating atmospheres rub right up against the dialogue.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
-
An employee washed hands for less than 10 seconds at the sushi bar, and the inspector wants to see 10-15 seconds of your hands rubbing each other.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Cameras now deploy ever higher frame rates, as seen in the uncanny sheen of blockbusters by James Cameron and Peter Jackson, and films are shot, shown, and restored on ever higher resolutions (4K, 8K, and beyond).—
Dennis Lim,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
These have a rubbery exterior with a sheen of oil, and a bland custard inside.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The complementary conditioner dials up the moisture with shea butter, murumuru butter, and amino acids to smooth and strengthen—leaving hair soft, bouncy, and ready for styling.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Its benefits span from firming and lift to smoothing texture and tone.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gloss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gloss. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
