1
as in accomplishment
a high level of taste and enlightenment as a result of extensive intellectual training and exposure to the arts
acquired a great deal of polish during his year abroad
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gleam
brightness created by light reflected from a surface
buffed the silver plate to a high polish
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to rub
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
you'll need to polish your shoes with a clean rag before the performance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to finish
to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done
once you polish the article a bit, it'll be ready to submit
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 polish
Remy Blumenfeld, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025
Add an element of interest with a crafty macramé tote, then ground the look with a trending cord pendant and classic white sneakers for practical polish.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 28 May 2025
Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025
Elevated by fluted panels and a duo of discreet storage drawers, its look is polished enough to nimbly complement non-office settings.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for polish
Noun
Hollywood trained audiences to expect spectacle, adrenaline, narrative dominance — and then froze while TikTok, YouTube and Instagram delivered all three with more speed, less polish and no permission required.
—Remy Blumenfeld, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025
Add an element of interest with a crafty macramé tote, then ground the look with a trending cord pendant and classic white sneakers for practical polish.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 28 May 2025
Verb
The formal coupes are polished using specialty techniques to reveal a reflective, opalescent finish.
—Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025
Elevated by fluted panels and a duo of discreet storage drawers, its look is polished enough to nimbly complement non-office settings.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for polish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polish
Noun
-
Advertisement Advertisement Despite all of these accolades and accomplishments, Nelson has a grander vision for himself.—
Rachel Brodsky,
Time,
20 June 2025
-
Carter led the Big 10 conference with that accomplishment.—
Justin Grasso,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
On opening night, the soprano’s top notes blazed out with a cool gleam, but her lower and middle registers lacked the heft needed to punch through Strauss’s dense textures.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
-
Yet beneath the gleam of champagne bars and five-star hotels, a current of mountain grit still flows.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Spray each area of the body for at least six seconds from just a few inches away, and then rub it in.—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer,
Health,
16 June 2025
-
Just slice an onion and rub it along the grates using tongs.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
15 June 2025
Verb
-
But by 2025 when the project was finished, the cost had gone above the grant amount of $698,500.—
Myrna Petlicki,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2025
-
As in the past, Nordic countries top the charts, with the Finns finishing first, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and the Netherlands.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
The base spirit undergoes three distillation cycles to achieve purity and refinement.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Hamilton has a minor-league option remaining, and it’s reached the point where the front office has to consider sending him to Triple A for refinement.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
8 June 2025
Noun
-
As the moon and stars light the night, the fabric and tiny mirrors will provide a magical glow to the ralli design. SR: Does ralli-making have a cultural connotation other than its usage as a quilt? PS: There are deep cultural meanings to ralli-making.—
Sonya Rehman,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
-
Essie Penny Talk $10 at Amazon $13 $10 at Walmart $10 at Ulta There's a metallic for every season, and summertime calls for a rose gold shade that mimics a sunset glow.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
12 June 2025
Verb
-
The researchers of the 2022 study also found that people on the receiving end of indirect attacks also end up responding with silence, politeness or attempts to smooth things over.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
-
The star of the show is its capsule technology, which kicks in right away to smooth things out.—
Deanna Pai,
Glamour,
12 June 2025
Verb
-
The spin-off transaction to established Versant is expected to be completed this year.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2025
-
True Botanicals completed a series B funding round in March 2023, led by growth equity firm NextWorld Evergreen.—
Kristen Philipkoski,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Polish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polish. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share