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
Relevance
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
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 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
Lia Russell, Sacramento Bee, 10 Jan. 2025
Within the walls, crafters cast elaborate bronze work and made gray and black pottery burnished to a shine (though reds and buffs got more popular over time).
—Ars Technica, 9 Jan. 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 leaves him roughly 22 months to burnish his record.
—Lia Russell, Sacramento Bee, 10 Jan. 2025
Within the walls, crafters cast elaborate bronze work and made gray and black pottery burnished to a shine (though reds and buffs got more popular over time).
—Ars Technica, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for burnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnish
Noun
-
Enhanced with moisturizing fatty acids that impart a dewy gleam at any age, the formulation also contains sea daffodil extract to brighten dark spots.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
21 Jan. 2025
-
The gleam in Danson’s eye in that final moment suggested a show, and an actor, with many exciting years left.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Much like Santa’s reindeer, every four-legged team member boasts a unique personality, and some love a belly rub before or after a tour.—
Shauna Farnell,
The Denver Post,
29 Jan. 2025
-
During her younger years, her daughter preferred the gentle in-person wakeup shoulder rubs from her mom to get her up.—
Cheryl Fenton,
Parents,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Wash off any residue with warm water and enjoy the glow.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
3 Feb. 2025
-
Whether roasting marshmallows, telling campfire stories or simply enjoying the glow of a crackling fire, fire pits make outdoor living cozy and inviting year-round.—
Jené Luciani Sena,
Fox News,
1 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Gentle physical exfoliants can also help polish away dead skin without irritation.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
4 Feb. 2025
-
This prompt works wonders for polishing your work and pointing out improvements.—
Kim Komando,
Fox News,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The best setting powders can help seal in your foundation, keep shine under control, and leave your skin with a soft-focus finish.—
Clare Holden,
Glamour,
6 Feb. 2025
-
The brand recommends rinsing it out with cold water, which will give the hair a boost in shine.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
4 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
On his way to the Barcelona bench, Flick stopped him and had a friendly chat with Yamal to smooth things over.—
Pol Ballús,
The Athletic,
3 Feb. 2025
-
After downloading it to their phones and entering their passport information, foreign nationals could use the application to smooth their way through border crossings and airports.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Using specialized macro lenses, the crew captured millimeter-level details, from the glint in a spider’s eye to the fine hairs on a beetle’s mandibles.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes,
14 Jan. 2025
-
Thank goodness the fight is at night or one of them might be put off by a glint of sunlight like receiver CeeDee Lamb.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
These new lights will help prevent glare, while having the ability to provide LED light shows in different colors.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Jan. 2025
-
His visual style, influenced by painters Salvador Dali, Van Gogh and Raja Ravi Varma, is noted for its distinctive use of glares, flares and vibrant colors.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near burnish
Cite this Entry
“Burnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnish. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share