as in to polish
to cover (something) with varnish
He varnished the table.
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Recent Examples of varnish
News Desk, Artforum, 6 Feb. 2025
Red and brown cliffs, varnished by thousands of years of high-desert weather, towered on either side of me.
—Derek M. Norman, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
Step aboard, inhale new-boat varnish and debate stateroom layouts.
—Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for varnish
Verb
Both works underwent conservation at Harvard, with conservators Ellen Davis and Kate Smith noting that Two Human Beings had at one point been varnished, in a move inconsistent with Munch’s practice, and that Train Smoke had accumulated atmospheric grime and was in need of paint stabilization.
—News Desk, Artforum, 6 Feb. 2025
Red and brown cliffs, varnished by thousands of years of high-desert weather, towered on either side of me.
—Derek M. Norman, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
Refinish the door with stain or varnish that matches the rest of the kitchen cabinet doors.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
Step aboard, inhale new-boat varnish and debate stateroom layouts.
—Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for varnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for varnish
Verb
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Set the scene Set on a leafy corner of Recoleta, close enough to the action but removed from the tourist hubbub, Sofitel is polished without being stuffy, the kind of place where everyone looks put-together even at breakfast.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Feb. 2026
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Many are polished enough to appear legitimate at first glance.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The wand is more precise and picks up a small amount of the gloss-oil.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
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The sleek cabinet design was copied by simpler brands and reproduced repeatedly, often appearing sterile when finished in a stark, high-gloss finish.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As the shoot unfolds, Clyde can be found affectionately rubbing Hayley’s hand, gently playing with the wedding band on her ring finger.—
Cierra Black,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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Wet both the pumice stone and the surface where the stain is, and gently rub the pumice over the stain in short strokes until the stain is gone.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Congress was sidelined, independent media was suppressed, and opponents were detained, all under a veneer of legal authority.—
Alejandro Reyes,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
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Some reviewers, including Artforum’s, were unimpressed with these layers of baroque exegesis, viewing them as a veneer—edgy but not embedded.—
Rachel Wetzler,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The jeans have slimming panels with a crisscross design that shape and support curves, while the high front waist smooths the tummy area.—
Melony Forcier,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
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Chocolate Ganache smoothed between layers of rich chocolate cake topped with Praline Frosting and a warm Bourbon Glaze make this recipe fit for special occasions.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Equipped with firearms and wearing camouflage, Thompson then fatally shot four others -- including an off-duty city police officer -- in his neighborhood and along a greenway.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Gardner survived the attack and was able to describe the shooter as a young man in camouflage.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sustainable battery design To develop the carbon spheres, Elsaesser and his research team drew inspiration from Mozartkugeln, the iconic Austrian confections made of pistachio, marzipan, and nougat and coated in dark chocolate.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
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Add cabbage and toss with tongs to coat.—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Is hair gloss or glaze better for natural hair?—
Tessa Petak,
InStyle,
15 Feb. 2026
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In this cake’s glaze a touch of tahini balances the sweetness of the powdered sugar.—
Faye Levy,
Oc Register,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Varnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/varnish. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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