as in gleam
brightness created by light reflected from a surface
after some much-needed polishing, the silver tea set had a brilliant burnish
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to rub
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
burnished the floor of the ballroom to a soft luster
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of burnish
Caleb Crain, Harper's magazine, 22 July 2019
Perhaps the open roasting caused the sugar to caramelize, adding a slightly bitter burnish that mitigated the awful sweetness.
—Mimi Sheraton, The Seattle Times, 25 Sep. 2018
Kiana Siriwardene, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2025
Smart founders understand how a solid PR strategy can both burnish a brand’s image in the moment and establish its reputation over time.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burnish
Noun
As each streetlamp passed, the burnish of its reflected light rolled up alongside them on the asphalt, like a dolphin curious about a new boat in her waters, and then veered away.
—Caleb Crain, Harper's magazine, 22 July 2019
Perhaps the open roasting caused the sugar to caramelize, adding a slightly bitter burnish that mitigated the awful sweetness.
—Mimi Sheraton, The Seattle Times, 25 Sep. 2018
Verb
That has been changing as the country strives to burnish its image, rising in soft power rankings, with domestic businesses helping Beijing secure a significant facelift.
—Kiana Siriwardene, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2025
Smart founders understand how a solid PR strategy can both burnish a brand’s image in the moment and establish its reputation over time.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnish
Noun
-
There is something feral in the onrush of Marlowe’s verse, with the gleam of bared teeth daring us to laugh.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
-
With piercing rumbles, flickering gleams and heaps of fan interaction, Cain's concert felt more like an interactive theatrical experience.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Dip a paper towel or cloth in the jelly, then rub a thin layer all over the surface.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
-
And while it was expected the two sides would part ways this offseason, first-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn rubbed Rodgers the wrong way after an awkward meeting between the two to discuss their future together.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Lit Ghost Cloche Add a small but impactful touch of Halloween with these little ghost cloches that add an eerie glow to coffee tables, shelves, and countertops.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
-
For the Grad School Queens and Teachers Whether she’s headed back to school for her master’s or ruling the classroom, the women returning to academia deserve a beauty routine that supports her grind without sacrificing her glow.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Given their stature, facilities and squad, this team is a rough diamond waiting to be polished.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Plenty of brands already offer or are transitioning to TPO-free formulas that contain different photoinitiators (a chemical that makes gel polishes cure under a lamp instead of air-drying like regular polish) such as TPO-L, BAPO, or other resin initiators.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, avocado, green tea, and sacha inchi oils nourish strands with rich moisture and smooth the cuticle for softness and shine.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
10 Sep. 2025
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The grittiness of this powder can cause the stone to lose its shine or have permanent scratches.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Personal communicators are wired to smooth things over.—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Aveda Hand Relief Moisturizing Crème gets it right with a rich yet fast-absorbing formula that pairs glycerin and aloe vera for lasting hydration, while exfoliating lactic acid gently smooths rough patches.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The glint and thrum of Y2K aesthetics—as contrasted with the droning conservatism of the white-collar office—read as anticipatory rather than melancholic, looking toward a future liberated from systems of old.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
23 Aug. 2025
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Newman plays Reggie with a permanently mischievous glint in his eye and a schemer’s grin.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The overwhelming success of the book and the resulting media glare opened a divide between them.—
Anderson Tepper,
The Atlantic,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Mercury was part of it during August, but has since sunk back into the glare of the sun.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnish. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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