varnish 1 of 2

verb

Definition of varnishnext
as in to polish
to cover (something) with varnish He varnished the table.

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Dissimilar Words

varnish

2 of 2

noun

as in gloss

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of 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
The glass is inscribed—in lead wire, lead foil, oil, varnish, and dust—with diagrammatic imagery evoking machinery. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 29 June 2026 Part of the high-wire act of such books is that the authors and their publishers work at unaccustomed speed to provide the end product with a history-as-it-is-happening varnish. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for varnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for varnish
  1. polish
  2. gloss
  3. rub
  4. veneer
  5. smooth
  6. camouflage
  7. coat
  8. glaze
Verb
  • This matching set from Amazon does exactly that, featuring a flattering high neckline and breezy cropped pants that are polished enough to wear straight from the airport to your destination.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 1 Aug. 2026
  • While a classic button-down shirt is always timeless, a peplum top offers the same wearability with a waist-defining silhouette that instantly polishes any bottom they’re paired with.
    — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of polish
Noun
  • Choose Warm Paint Colors Hudson recommends a satin finish for kitchen walls and semi-gloss or high-gloss paint for cabinets.
    — Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2026
  • For those who prefer a subtler refresh, a gloss is the ultimate luxury treatment.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 29 July 2026
Definition of gloss
Verb
  • Use tweezers or a butter knife to rub over the seed head to scrape off any seeds that won’t fall off on their own.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Coat the exterior of the pork with 2 teaspoons salt and 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice, rubbing it into the meat.
    — Kate Williams, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of rub
Noun
  • Dish Soap Certain home exterior surfaces, like wood, fiber cement, and stone veneer are delicate and sensitive to moisture.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Images of Russian delivery warehouses and refineries ablaze have punctured the veneer of safety Moscow has tried to maintain four years into the war.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Definition of veneer
Verb
  • Every instinct told me to step in, smooth it out, take some of the weight off.
    — Monica Cutia, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Brook actually recommends skipping volumizing sprays—which can make dense hair feel bulky—and instead smoothing a lightweight oil like Biolage All-In-One Multi-Benefit Oil through the lengths for shine and frizz control.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of smooth
Noun
  • Even when the target insect does spot a dragonfly pursuer, these sneaky hunters use a trick called motion camouflage to make their pursuit less obvious.
    — Rachel Sargent Mirus, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Draft the note, remove the emotional camouflage, and say the part that actually needs to be heard.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of camouflage
Verb
  • The wings in the ad appeared to be heavily coated in a thick, dark sauce, and some of the pieces didn’t clearly resemble drums or flats.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 3 Aug. 2026
  • But soon after a contractor completed work on a protective blue liner, and the pool was refilled, there were reports of coating floating at the surface.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of coat
Verb
  • Eyes glaze over when the subject strays too far from Memeworld.
    — Nick H. Penniman, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026
  • Working with 1 cookie at a time, spread 1 tablespoon vanilla glaze over half of underside of cookie.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 June 2026
Definition of glaze

Browse Nearby Words

varmints
varnish
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Cite this Entry

“Varnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/varnish. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on varnish

Nglish: Translation of varnish for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about varnish

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