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
Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 28 Mar. 2025
Platt’s brash and demanding manner also rankled some of his subordinates, who claimed they were forced out of their positions for being reluctant to cut corners or allegedly lie to the news media at his suggestion in order to burnish the city’s reputations.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 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
During his tenure, the Italian brand continued to burnish its heritage as a jeweler while also growing into a serious watchmaker that regularly breaks world records for the thinnest watches with various complications.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 28 Mar. 2025
Platt’s brash and demanding manner also rankled some of his subordinates, who claimed they were forced out of their positions for being reluctant to cut corners or allegedly lie to the news media at his suggestion in order to burnish the city’s reputations.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnish
Noun
-
Highland wasn’t even a gleam in anybody’s eye when Johnson ruled the city.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
10 Mar. 2025
-
But also required is investment in new technologies that today may be only a gleam in some researcher’s eye.—
DANIEL YERGIN,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Gently rub away any remaining margarine with a paper towel.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Sometimes even small things can rub a customer wrong.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
My skin feels noticeably softer, more hydrated, and has a natural glow that lasts all day.—
Tira Urquhart,
Essence,
15 Apr. 2025
-
Newman’s Own is betting on something older—and maybe more powerful: the warm glow effect.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
When the Doctor is planning to break into memory banks to search for answers about why robots and people suddenly stopped peacefully coexisting, Belinda decides to use a polishing robot to lead the robots to her.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
12 Apr. 2025
-
Offer to polish the slides, do research, or bring everything together.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Wow Dream Coat for humidity-proof shine and a lightweight shine mist to catch the light with every turn.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
15 Apr. 2025
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Serum is a leave-in serum designed to nourish, hydrate, detangle and enhance shine for dry hair overnight.—
Nora Colomer,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Each pad is infused with 10% glycolic acid for gentle exfoliation, tranexamic acid to target dark spots, and niacinamide to smooth and even tone.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
15 Apr. 2025
-
His biggest impression was how balanced and smooth the bat felt through the strike zone.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The glint of the sun, gleaming light, on the tops, and shadow, darkness in the troughs.—
Casey Cep,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
-
The light from the lake glints through the windows and falls across Marcus’s face.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Under the glare of the desert floodlights, a title fight that has been quietly smoldering since Melbourne has now erupted into an open flame.—
Kanzah Maktoum,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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Singles players routinely react with varying intensities of glare if an opponent sends a smash in their direction, because there is often more open court at which to aim.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnish. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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