1
as in rubbing
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in finishing
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
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Recent Examples of polishing
The deceptively roomy, buttery-smooth leather style features a convertible crossbody strap, metal feet, interior pockets, and an outfit-polishing silhouette.
—
Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 13 June 2026
Prioritizing Features Over User Intent A common user experience mistake is polishing the surface instead of solving for the moment of intent.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Tasker and Grimm care for the space almost every day — watering plants, sweeping away sand, polishing the phone.
—Itay Hod, CBS News, 11 June 2026
However, Capcom has been hard at work polishing it like an authentic Hattori Hanzō sword.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 10 June 2026
Downstream lithography and ion implantation steps are also more demanding than for silicon, partly because SiC’s hardness complicates polishing and etch uniformity.
—Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
This is a popular hack for many cleaning professionals and can be especially effective at polishing faucets, lifting toothpaste residue, and removing water spots, all without the application of harsh chemicals.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 29 May 2026
Another highlight of my visit was experiencing Bastien's Manicure, an in-spa collaboration with nail-care specialists Bastien Gonzalez, which pairs meticulous cuticle work and a thorough massage with a natural nail-polishing technique that eliminates the need for nail polish entirely.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
There’s the difficulty of sintering and polishing the ceramic, and then there’s maintaining the purity of the look.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 13 June 2026
Prioritizing Features Over User Intent A common user experience mistake is polishing the surface instead of solving for the moment of intent.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Tasker and Grimm care for the space almost every day — watering plants, sweeping away sand, polishing the phone.
—Itay Hod, CBS News, 11 June 2026
However, Capcom has been hard at work polishing it like an authentic Hattori Hanzō sword.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 10 June 2026
Downstream lithography and ion implantation steps are also more demanding than for silicon, partly because SiC’s hardness complicates polishing and etch uniformity.
—Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
This is a popular hack for many cleaning professionals and can be especially effective at polishing faucets, lifting toothpaste residue, and removing water spots, all without the application of harsh chemicals.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 29 May 2026
Another highlight of my visit was experiencing Bastien's Manicure, an in-spa collaboration with nail-care specialists Bastien Gonzalez, which pairs meticulous cuticle work and a thorough massage with a natural nail-polishing technique that eliminates the need for nail polish entirely.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
There’s the difficulty of sintering and polishing the ceramic, and then there’s maintaining the purity of the look.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polishing
Verb
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Many kids joined Club America in part because Kirk’s conservative principles appealed to them and in part because rubbing elbows with wealthy donors who frequented Mar-a-Lago did, too.—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
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But Jonah never accepted plenty of welcoming hands despite rubbing elbows in such crowds, and Jamon hardly let his son leave the house, least of all for a party.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
21 June 2026
Verb
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But according to master distiller Brent Elliott, this cask finishing project started well before either of those things were a reality.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
23 June 2026
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Group placement is key — since the higher the finishing spot in the group, the more favorable the matchup (theoretically) in the next stage.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
23 June 2026
Verb
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This one’s made with a blend of recycled materials and spandex, which reviewers say is thick and comfortably smoothing, and features adjustable criss-cross back straps and a shelf bra.—
Olivia Cigliano,
InStyle,
20 June 2026
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True to its name, the lightweight styler enhances your natural texture while smoothing flyaways and boosting softness (no heat required).—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Spain hasn’t scored a World Cup goal since Álvaro Morata’s in a 2-1 group stage loss to Japan in 2022, this despite completing 2,500 passes and taking 49 shots, according to the BBC.—
Patrick Sung Cuadrado,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
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The actress, 40, posted the update — which featured a photo of herself smiling widely in a pink sports bra and matching jogging shorts after completing the KLM Norte Sur in Madrid on Sunday, June 21 — on Instagram.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
21 June 2026
Verb
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Use a microfiber cloth to clean, and follow by buffing the surface with a clean, dry cloth to prevent streaks.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
19 June 2026
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Use an applicator pad (often supplied with the wax) and start buffing with a fresh microfiber towel.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Dish soap’s surfactants bind to grease and water, lifting grime without scrubbing.—
Mallory Carra,
The Spruce,
14 June 2026
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But some of us are still scrubbing away at stains, thinking that is the only way to get rid of them.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Polishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polishing. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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