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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of polishing
One air bubble can destroy a $10,000 piece at the polishing stage.
—
Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Advanced packaging – Disco Japan's Disco manufactures processing equipment and tools for the creation of computer chips, specializing in grinding and polishing equipment, which is part of the advanced packaging process.
—Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026
The Mother’s kit requires the use of a drill and polishing pad to clean up the lights.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, other refinements included sanding and polishing the carbon-fiber composite surface.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 14 Jan. 2026
The experience traced the full journey of a diamond, from extraction to processing, cutting and polishing, grading and certification, and finally, sale.
—Lindsey Granger, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2026
Speak steadily to keep polishing your reputation.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026
The hum of polishing wheels bleeds through half-open doors.
—Parin Moradiya, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Cut up an old blanket into manageable squares for staining furniture, dusting, cleaning mirrors, wiping up spills, polishing silver, and more.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Advanced packaging – Disco Japan's Disco manufactures processing equipment and tools for the creation of computer chips, specializing in grinding and polishing equipment, which is part of the advanced packaging process.
—Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026
The Mother’s kit requires the use of a drill and polishing pad to clean up the lights.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, other refinements included sanding and polishing the carbon-fiber composite surface.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 14 Jan. 2026
The experience traced the full journey of a diamond, from extraction to processing, cutting and polishing, grading and certification, and finally, sale.
—Lindsey Granger, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2026
Speak steadily to keep polishing your reputation.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026
The hum of polishing wheels bleeds through half-open doors.
—Parin Moradiya, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Cut up an old blanket into manageable squares for staining furniture, dusting, cleaning mirrors, wiping up spills, polishing silver, and more.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polishing
Verb
-
However, there is a risk of the shinbone rubbing against the femur with this type of injury, which can injure the cartilage (which is designed to reduce friction between the bones).—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The lawsuit accuses Smith of grooming the boy and touching him inappropriately, including rubbing his buttocks and pressing his own body against the boy's while he was seated at his desk.—
Sabrina Franza,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After finishing 26–8 in 2025, the program will move up to Class 6A and compete in District 5-6A with other state volleyball powers, including Hebron and Flower Mound.—
Myah Taylor,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Beginning in Anchorage and finishing in Nome, competitors race through blizzards, sub-zero temperatures and gale force winds in a racing event that crosses through a rugged landscape of tundra and spruce forests, over hills and mountain passes, across rivers and even over sea ice.—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hyaluronic acid, peptides, and botanical extracts provide pore-minimizing, firming, and line-smoothing properties.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
-
This is a great day to take note of potential friction points and start smoothing them over.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Once, after completing one routine, Goebel nearly skated into the Zamboni tunnel by mistake.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Bass, despite never completing higher education, was an avid reader, and sharp.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For extra shine, Sokolowski suggests buffing lightly with a dry cloth.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
17 Jan. 2026
-
The singer, born Cassandra Monique Batie, also colored her waterline with black, buffing gray and brown tones underneath.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Later in the season, after the Bridgerton sons playfully throw shaving foam at each other, a maid is shown scrubbing the floor, the furniture, and the walls, their fun and folly now her toil.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
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Simply soak a fresh sheet in water for 10 to 15 minutes before scrubbing away.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Polishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polishing. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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