polished

adjective

pol·​ished ˈpä-lisht 

1

: subjected to polishing : made smooth and glossy by or as if by polishing

a polished surface

polished silver

2

: characterized by a high degree of development, finish, or refinement : free from imperfections

a polished performance/performer

a highly polished piece of writing

3

somewhat old-fashioned : characterized by elegance and refinement

a polished gentleman

polished society

Synonyms of polished

• sleek
• glossy
• glistening
• satin

Examples of polished in a Sentence

she could see her face reflected in the polished hood of the car

showing the polished manners of a cosmopolitan woman

Recent Examples on the Web

Cisse isn’t widely viewed as being as polished as the first-round cornerbacks, but KC could hand him to defensive backs coach Dave Merritt, then set it and forget it. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026

These details resist the polished finish often associated with large-scale installations, instead highlighting time, effort, and process. —Olga Garcia-Mayoral, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026

Maybe she is confused by this flat new geography of polished wood and granite with no trace of lumps or clods, where nothing is spongy. —María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026

The planar glass and polished aluminum materials give the piece a more industrial feeling—a sensation juxtaposed by the LED strip within, which emits a soft, warm glow. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English polisshed, from past participle of polisshen to polish

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for polished

• abolished
• demolished
• unpolished