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
Theo Belci, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
One was working with the nonprofit Mundo Espiral Foundation to establish a Pasto Varnish apprenticeship program that paired 55 apprentices with experienced mopa-mopa harvesters, wood masters, and varnish masters.
—Kristin Houser, Big Think, 29 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
Fabric layers mesh and bond; glass pellets, mother-of-pearl beads, and cables get nestled into crevices, trapped under hardened strata of varnish.
—Theo Belci, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
One was working with the nonprofit Mundo Espiral Foundation to establish a Pasto Varnish apprenticeship program that paired 55 apprentices with experienced mopa-mopa harvesters, wood masters, and varnish masters.
—Kristin Houser, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for varnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for varnish
Verb
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The beverage program, led by Mariena Mercer Boarini, is polished and exacting without veering into theatrics.—
David Morris,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Mar. 2026
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Over his 30-year coaching career, Niko Medved has polished a preferred offensive playing style, fine-tuning it in his dozen years as a head coach.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But underneath the gloss, the patterns are remarkably consistent.—
Jessica Pellien,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
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The looping white steel of the glyph gave rise to a series of further glyphs, their high-gloss finish-fetish circular looping tubes being but a short step away from her colorful bent rectangular tubing.—
Gordon Hughes,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Dip a cloth in soapy water and wring it out, then rub the surface of each globe until clean.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
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This anti-chafing stick from MegaBabe is my go-to to prevent soreness in the inner thigh area, where legs tend to rub together.—
Terri Peters,
Parents,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But what Trump has always hated isn’t conflict but sacrifice, the notion that American power should ever be constrained by a veneer of idealism or care for global opinion.—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
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Then in December, one of the town’s largest employers, Roseburg Forest Products, shut down its veneer mill, putting 140 employees out of work.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Another said the product is effective at smoothing lines without aggravating sensitive skin.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
3 Mar. 2026
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Simultaneously, a conditioning complex of peptides, ceramides, encapsulated hyaluronic acid, and botanical ingredients works to smooth, cushion, and replenish moisture where it’s most needed.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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However, camouflage, vegetation and changing lighting conditions often make these mines nearly invisible in conventional images.—
Sagar Lekhak,
The Conversation,
5 Mar. 2026
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Madison Fields, 16, was last seen on Harry Lee Lane in a black Champion sweatshirt and camouflage pants.—
Cameron Knight,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Flavored with fresh garlic, ginger, and warm spices like garam masala and Kashmiri chile powder, the yogurt coats every nook and cranny of the vegetables, helping each floret develop beautiful caramelization.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
5 Mar. 2026
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Rice protein can also coat the hair and provide a light protective barrier, helping retain moisture and resulting in less frizzy hair overall.—
Eden Stuart,
Glamour,
5 Mar. 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 11 Mar. 2026.
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