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
-
The bumper was rubbing the tire and a headlight looked to be dragging.
-
Working with the fingertip has a sensuosity which is erotic and raw; there is something very direct about this process of drawing, rubbing, scratching and erasing.
Verb
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Arenas also uncharacteristically struggled finishing at the rim and with his shot selection, two skills that previously were seen as strengths.
-
McLaren had a slightly less mediocre time, finishing fourth (Oscar Piastri) and seventh (Lando Norris), with Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull in sixth.
Verb
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Its major selling points include the stretchy and soft material, wide straps, side-smoothing panels, and wireless design.
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It can be used as a concealer, contour, or foundation, has medium coverage, is pore-blurring, texture-smoothing, and imperfection-camouflaging.
Verb
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Because of this, the Mandala Healing Center places significant emphasis on aftercare planning and alumni community engagement designed to help clients maintain stability after completing formal treatment programs.
-
In Arizona, applicants completing the federal form that do not provide citizenship proof may be registered as voting in only federal elections, but are not eligible to vote for president or by mail.
Verb
-
Use a microfiber cloth to clean, and follow by buffing the surface with a clean, dry cloth to prevent streaks.
-
Use an applicator pad (often supplied with the wax) and start buffing with a fresh microfiber towel.
Verb
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Never worry about scrubbing away stains from your pets or children again with this powerful carpet and upholstery cleaner.
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The best way to apply this paste is either with your scrubbing applicator or a scraper to make sure there's an even application along the grout lines.
Cite this Entry
“Polishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polishing. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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