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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of polishing
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
Dresses and jumpsuits are your most effortless avenue before adding polishing touches with jewelry and simple sandals.
—Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 24 May 2026
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
Dresses and jumpsuits are your most effortless avenue before adding polishing touches with jewelry and simple sandals.
—Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 24 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polishing
Verb
-
Use light pressure when rubbing the skin, and avoid washing multiple peaches at once to prevent them from bumping into each other.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
14 June 2026
-
My wife lowers her gaze as if tired, rubbing the side of her glass with her fingers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Brind’Amour played in only one NHL All-Star Game, received Hart Trophy votes in only one season (2005-06, finishing 10th), and hit the 80-point mark just four times.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
After finishing nine holes, the men enjoy breakfast burritos.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
For styling, blow-dry with a flat brush or finish with a smoothing hair oil or serum to give it a little extra polish.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
4 Dec. 2025
-
Luna and Johnson eventually came to a deal on vote pairing, smoothing relations for the time being.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The Orange also dominated possession in the early goings, holding the ball for 69 percent of the first half and completing 307 passes versus Japan’s 130 passes.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
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In April, Betty Lindberg ceded that completing the Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race at 101 years old this July was probably not going to happen.—
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Polishing is the process of buffing off the excess wax to create a shine.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
13 June 2026
-
Ngo coats each nail with a matte primer, which creates a smooth base, before buffing the powder across the surface with a nail sponge.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
In June, Walmart shareholders overwhelmingly voted down a shareholder proposal to explain why the nation's largest private employer held off on scrubbing some of its DEI initiatives until Starbuck publicly pressured the company.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
9 Dec. 2025
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Clean them weekly by scrubbing with nine parts water, one part vinegar, then rinse clean.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
4 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Polishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polishing. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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