as in to polish
to cover (something) with varnish
He varnished the table.
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Recent Examples of varnish
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
The coarsest grades of steel wool can strip paint or varnish and remove rust from surfaces.
—Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2025
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
The dial is created by applying 15 layers of clear lacquer over a coat of Tiffany blue-colored varnish.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for varnish
Verb
Refinish the door with stain or varnish that matches the rest of the kitchen cabinet doors.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
The coarsest grades of steel wool can strip paint or varnish and remove rust from surfaces.
—Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2025
Noun
Finishes like polyurethane, varnish, or laminate add a protective topcoat to your cabinets to protect them from substances like grease.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
The dial is created by applying 15 layers of clear lacquer over a coat of Tiffany blue-colored varnish.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for varnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for varnish
Verb
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Original frescoes were restored, marble was polished, and the color scheme was lightened up with a silver-and-blue palette accenting the white and cream walls.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Robb Report,
4 June 2026
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Expect to see even tinier dots and minuscule French tips atop jelly polishes in summery shades like fuchsia and blood orange.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Brazil rang the changes in the second half and the cavalry ran riot, adding some gloss to the scoreline and giving Ancelotti plenty to ponder in the days ahead.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
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However, outside the capital’s borders, this urban gloss disappears.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Inoculation involved taking pus from a pock of someone with a not-very-severe case of smallpox, making a cut in the arm of the person to be inoculated, and rubbing the pus into the cut.—
Diana Gitig,
ArsTechnica,
30 May 2026
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And that really rubbed committee members last cycle the wrong way and may have worked against them.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Pfeiffer went to town with hair extensions, loud makeup, and snap-on veneers.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
4 June 2026
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The group kept going, relocating to North Carolina and shedding the Eternal Values name in favor of a construction company called the Lotus Group—a thin veneer of normalcy stretched over the same dynamics.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Fortunately, just then, Marijan entered the living room, with her hair smoothed down and her makeup reapplied, wearing a hand-stitched abaya from Mecca.—
Jamil Jan Kochai,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
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In turn, these ingredients will firm the skin, visibly smooth fine lines, impart a youthful glow, and provide deep nourishment.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
31 May 2026
Noun
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The military used beeswax to waterproof canvas tents and rucksacks, use in sunscreen and camouflage, and wax and coat planes to reduce drag and save money on fuel.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
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The 28-year-old American actor was out and about in Los Angeles sporting the athletic brand’s classic sneaker style with camouflage cargo shorts and a red top layered over a white long sleeve.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Typically this involves coating the inside with cooking oil and turning the smoker on to burn off any residue and re-season it.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
4 June 2026
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Add the rice and stir to coat in the oil.—
Emily Weinstein,
Twin Cities,
4 June 2026
Verb
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The batter comes together fast, and there’s no icing or glaze to fuss over—just a quick sift of powdered sugar.—
Ginger Crichton,
Midwest Living,
17 May 2026
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Mix seeds into honey and glaze chicken thighs or salmon.—
Nancy LeBrun,
Verywell Health,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Varnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/varnish. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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