1
as in rubbing
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
you'll need to polish your shoes with a clean rag before the performance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in finishing
to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done
once you polish the article a bit, it'll be ready to submit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of polishing
Even ketchup, tomato juice, or spaghetti sauce can do the trick in polishing copper.
—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2024
Some edits and modifications were implemented with the goal of polishing Shakespeare’s language to fit more contemporary voices, trimming down lengthy plots, and adapting 16th-century plays to 17th-century London’s smaller theaters.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Dec. 2024
The micro-polishing crystals remove dull skin and reveal a bright, smooth complexion.
—Bridget Degnan, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024
Amazon's making your dental dream a reality with its lot of tooth-polishing discounts.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 1 Dec. 2024
Another building houses polishing equipment.
—Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024
No one is sitting around polishing tiaras and waiting for their prince to come, in other words.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2024
The sleek, lightweight device can clean messes on carpet and hard floors, so polishing the whole house without breaking out a broom is easy.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 6 Oct. 2024
Zoya was erasing the line between the sacred and the vile, the Jewish artifact and the anti-Semitic image, then polishing the resulting monstrosities to a very high shine.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2024
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2024
Some edits and modifications were implemented with the goal of polishing Shakespeare’s language to fit more contemporary voices, trimming down lengthy plots, and adapting 16th-century plays to 17th-century London’s smaller theaters.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Dec. 2024
The micro-polishing crystals remove dull skin and reveal a bright, smooth complexion.
—Bridget Degnan, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024
Amazon's making your dental dream a reality with its lot of tooth-polishing discounts.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 1 Dec. 2024
Another building houses polishing equipment.
—Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024
No one is sitting around polishing tiaras and waiting for their prince to come, in other words.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2024
The sleek, lightweight device can clean messes on carpet and hard floors, so polishing the whole house without breaking out a broom is easy.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 6 Oct. 2024
Zoya was erasing the line between the sacred and the vile, the Jewish artifact and the anti-Semitic image, then polishing the resulting monstrosities to a very high shine.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polishing
Verb
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Injuries, a declining offence and a disappointing bullpen all led to the club finishing last in the American League East.—
Kaitlyn McGrath,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024
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The class in Nebraska six years ago featured Omaha Burke’s Xavier Watts, who is finishing an All-America career at Notre Dame in the CFP.—
Mitch Sherman,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In the clubhouse, smoothing the path for Shohei Ohtani.—
Bill Plaschke,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Dec. 2024
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Powered by nourishing shea butter and jojoba oil, this silicone-free formula hydrates, softens, and enhances shine while smoothing unruly hair.—
Erin Parker,
Allure,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Start by buffing a small, out-of-sight area with any cleaning solutions listed to make sure there are no reactions or damage.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
16 Dec. 2024
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The outside of these types of receptacles need a bit of buffing with a dry microfiber towel to rid of fingerprints, smudges, and stains.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
23 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Polishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polishing. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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