japanning

verb

present participle of japan
as in varnishing

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for japanning
  1. varnishing
  2. coating
  3. polishing
  4. burnishing
  5. rubbing
  6. glossing
  7. shining
  8. buffing
Verb
  • Like most ’80s metal heroes who briefly lost their way in the late ’90s, Megadeth have spent the 21st century varnishing their legacy with what’s tried and true, delivering eight LPs since 2001 that all basically sound the same.
    — Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of varnishing
Verb
  • Solgel ceramic coating Most nonstick pans use nontoxic coating from organic materials, producing a safe and convenient way to cook your food.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • For Midnight Journey, a gown inspired by scratch-off lottery cards, Officina39 applied a leather coating to achieve the sisters’ vintage effect.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of coating
Verb
  • Almost all of them seemed empty, like houses closed for the season, but a handful had signs of life—crewmen at the railings, polishing the brightwork, as if getting ready to leave.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
  • There may have been a time when hosting a holiday dinner meant pulling out every platter, polishing the silver, and making sure there were enough wine glasses for a small army.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of polishing
Verb
  • China has also entered the fray, with more of an eye to burnishing its image rather than undermining local politics.
    — the Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of burnishing
Verb
  • Oh, and a pad from an HTC Vive, because nobody wants the sharp edges of layered plastic extruded from a 3D printer rubbing against their face.
    — Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Some of the more envelope-pushing moments, including an extended scene of nuns ripping off their habits and rubbing themselves on a life-sized crucifix, were in the script.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of rubbing
Verb
  • The easy-to-use glossing treatment, which should be applied to damp hair and followed by a blow dryer to activate the frizz-fighting alpha acids, is a semi-permanent smoothing spray that basically creates a water-resistant shield to prevent flyaways—even in the most humid of places.
    — Eva Thomas, InStyle, 9 Apr. 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
Definition of glossing
Verb
  • Charlotte’s dining scene is shining bright among the stars of the South once again.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2026
  • While Cowtown’s film industry is shining now thanks in part to Taylor Sheridan, the festival is proof that locals have been passionate about the art form for some time now.
    — Brayden Garcia October 22, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of shining
Verb
  • If the copper is heavily tarnished, let the toothpaste’s active ingredients work on the patina for ten minutes or so before buffing.
    — Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Classes and skills lean into different styles of play; Astromech droids are entirely support-focused, generating AP (action points) and buffing the party, while the Assault is focused on heavy damage and drawing aggro.
    — Hayes Madsen, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of buffing
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

japanned
japanning
japans
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Cite this Entry

“Japanning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/japanning. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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