See the Dictionary Definition 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for japanning
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
Verb
-
Certain mascaras, foundations and dental flosses also use PFAS as texture or coating agents.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
-
Despite a mentality forged by military service, her abuelo is kind and affectionate, while her straight-shooting abuela gives her the explanation she’s long been denied for her mother’s abandonment, without sugar-coating it.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
While rivals like the Tacoma and Colorado constantly reinvent themselves, Nissan tends to take the long road by refining, tweaking, and polishing instead of blowing everything up every few years.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 May 2026
-
Various owners have taken the reins over the years, but all were committed to preserving the bar’s old-school character rather than polishing, upgrading, or updating it away.—
Skye Sherman,
Southern Living,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Murdaugh’s father, a grandfather and a great-grandfather were each elected as top prosecutors in the region, burnishing a family reputation that eventually crumbled.—
Daniel Arkin,
NBC news,
13 May 2026
-
Shapiro brushed off questions — and Republican criticism — about burnishing his credentials for a White House run.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Pettis took out a paper towel and began rubbing the paints together on the easel.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2026
-
Also, avoid rubbing the scent onto your skin, as this degrades the fragrance.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
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
Verb
-
Next up is a closer-up view of the planet with little dots — satellites — shining and moving just above the rim of Earth.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
11 May 2026
-
Plus, there’s been a push to revitalize the city’s historic neon signage and keep Albuquerque shining bright.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Eyuel Tafesse, room operations manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, finishes by lightly buffing cabinets, desks, and drawers to create a soft sheen, often using a polish with a subtle lemon scent that makes the room feel warmer.—
Colleen Sullivan,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
-
Keep one slightly damp microfiber cloth for cleaning and one dry microfiber cloth for buffing.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Japanning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/japanning. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
