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
Examples 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
Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
More recently, Luxor’s growing reputation has been burnished by two vibey hotels: Al Moudira, a long-standing favorite of the creative class, seems to be better than ever.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 20 Nov. 2024
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
During the last Trump administration, Newsom burnished his national profile by casting himself as a crusading foil to the then-president.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
More recently, Luxor’s growing reputation has been burnished by two vibey hotels: Al Moudira, a long-standing favorite of the creative class, seems to be better than ever.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for burnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnish
Noun
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Each door reveals one of the brand’s must-try products, from the cleanser to the hyaluronic acid serum to the antioxidant-rich glow drops which add a subtle gleam to skin when mixed in with a moisturizer.Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Dec. 2024
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Pair glitter with a clear or lightly colored glass to show off its gleam and serve it soon, as some glitters settle over time.Karen Yuan, Bon Appétit, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Instead, focus on things like what's been bothering you in the past week, stress about an upcoming event, or a work incident that rubbed you the wrong way.Perri Ormont Blumberg, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024
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Bringing them coffee and breakfast in bed is a good way to start, but rubbing their feet at the end of the day and listening to their war stories from work proves your sincerity.Lisa Stardust, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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This also is a good time to see some planets in our solar system, including Mars, which is getting closer to Earth each night and will become a little bit brighter each night with its reddish, yellow glow, Tyler says.Chandelis Duster, NPR, 12 Dec. 2024
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Explore DeBary Hall during holiday evenings when candlelight will fill the 19th century mansion with a warm glow, accentuating its historic treasures and Christmas decorations.Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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To complete the monochrome picture, which was styled by Annabelle Harron, Oprah polished things off with a pair of boots from the brand worn by Julia Roberts and her niece Emma Roberts, along with Selena Gomez and Katie Holmes.Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
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Behrends completes his process by polishing and buffing the sculpture before attaching it to the trophy.Bruce Martin, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Fresh fruit was available on request, along with complimentary shoe shine service, and room service was available 24 hours.David Swanson, Travel + Leisure, 14 Dec. 2024
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As someone with greasy hair—I'm talking within a day—using one of the best shampoos for oily hair gives me a layer of protection against excess shine, and makes perfecting my hair routine a lot easier.Kristine Thomason, Glamour, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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There’s even a nifty dryer attachment that swiftly smooths hair without overexposing it to heat; this is thanks to the Coanda effect, which tames hair without the need to press it against a heated surface, like a flat iron.Clara McMahon, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
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Packed with powerhouse ingredients like Japanese rice, green tea, and algae, this set aims to hydrate the skin and smooth any rough texture caused by dryness.Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Dec. 2024
Noun
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An electric line snakes in from a nearby pole, and a satellite dish glints in the sun.Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 20 Nov. 2024
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There’s a moment in the final scene of the series when Timothy displays sharp teeth and a weird glint in his eye.Jen Chaney, Vulture, 23 Aug. 2024
Noun
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These shades offer 100 percent UV protection and filter the reflective glare of the high-altitude sun reflecting off fresh stashes of powder.Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2024
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Here, there’s only one second in one montage when, during a performance of Medea, Jolie unleashes a hot glare.Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near burnish
Cite this Entry
“Burnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnish. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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