as in to polish
to cover (something) with varnish
He varnished the table.
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Recent Examples of varnish
Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
In a final step, the mask was carefully aligned with and applied to the surface of the painting, then adhered in place with a thin spray coating of varnish.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 15 June 2025
Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 10 Dec. 2024
The common sources of lead exposure, according to the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department, include paint and varnish in homes built before 1978, some soil and tap water exposure, clay pots, spices, toys, makeup, jewelry and ammunition.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for varnish
Verb
Methanol — found in antifreeze, varnishes and fuels — is a colorless liquid, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
In a final step, the mask was carefully aligned with and applied to the surface of the painting, then adhered in place with a thin spray coating of varnish.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 15 June 2025
Noun
Under the apartment’s roof, for example, cellulose insulation boards were left exposed, and then varnished, without being concealed behind drywall.
—Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 10 Dec. 2024
The common sources of lead exposure, according to the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department, include paint and varnish in homes built before 1978, some soil and tap water exposure, clay pots, spices, toys, makeup, jewelry and ammunition.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for varnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for varnish
Verb
-
Anthropic updated the rule in July, allowing prospective hires to polish their resumes, cover letters, and applications with the advanced tech.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Egos will not be polished but pushed to one side as Tuchel looks for chemistry and cohesion in his group.—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, her lips were dressed in brown liner and clear gloss.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The other twist is that Noelle is addicted to a podcast (performed by Adwa Alasiri) that dishes out both true crime stories and helpful makeup tips, an amusing combination of gloss and gore.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Surely, that will rub some the wrong way, but the Tide have now beaten three teams that haven’t lost to anyone else in Georgia, Vanderbilt and Missouri.—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
The traction offered stability, even in wet conditions, and there was no soreness or rubbing.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Eddie is happy to sit in the corner with Shane, sucking on his new veneers, and let the women tear each other to shreds, never getting involved.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The veneer cracked as Misiorowski lost connection with the strike zone.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Touch in Sol’s fan-favorite primer smooths skin with a lightweight, velvety finish that blurs the appearance of pores and grips onto makeup in place all day.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Truly, the gadget is that girl — capable of smoothing, de-frizzing, and adding effortless bounce to your locks while granting damage-free curls thanks to Shark’s Coanda technology (which automatically wraps strands around the barrel, saving you the time and hassle of DIYing it).—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Investigators collected the camouflage jacket at the hospital as evidence.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Inside, a camouflage-like green marble countertop anchors the kitchen.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This one-of-a-kind chicken is made by marinating tender all-white meat chicken in jalapeño buttermilk flavor, which is then coated in a crispy, crunchy blend of tortilla chip crumbs and breadcrumbs.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Taco Bell’s crispy chicken is white meat marinated in jalapeño buttermilk and coated in breadcrumbs and tortilla chips.—
Helena Wegner,
Miami Herald,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Drizzle glaze evenly over cake.—
Ann Taylor Pittman,
Southern Living,
11 Oct. 2025
-
It’s used both to glaze the pork and as a dipping sauce on the side.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Varnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/varnish. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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