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
  • On the last day of August, Jeff van den Noort spotted thick swirls of neon green film coating the water just steps from his home in Vermont.
    — Jonathan Mingle, ProPublica, 4 Nov. 2026
  • That project involved color-coating the basketball court at Apple Hill Park on the village’s north side.
    — Steve Zalusky, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of coating
Verb
  • Nowadays, machinery like edge polishers make calibration, grinding, shaping and beveling possible with great ease and high-pressure waterjet cutting and polishing systems used for complex contours and sensitive materials.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Small updates like polishing or new hardware can elevate your kitchen’s look with minimal effort.
    — Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of polishing
Verb
  • Charles is an extension of the extension, burnishing the Kushner brand in the heart of Europe.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of burnishing
Verb
  • The simplest answer to how to wash fruits and veggies is to start with clean hands, then rinse produce under cool running water while rubbing it for about 20 seconds.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Small amounts of surface rust or rust that can be removed simply by rubbing a paper towel over the surface, is okay.
    — Makena Gera, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 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
  • Madison’s Dior shoes went with a custom strapless Dior dress in shining shades of silver and pale gray.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The 2026 edition aims to tell the story of music from multiple perspectives, shining a light not only on those who take the stage, but also on the people who write, produce, lead and work behind the scenes every day.
    — Billboard Italy, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of shining
Verb
  • Rather than drawing a precise border around the lips, the technique involves buffing pigment outward to create a hazy, almost airbrushed effect.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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.

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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 9 Nov. 2026.

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