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
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Recent Examples of polishing
The deceptively roomy, buttery-smooth leather style features a convertible crossbody strap, metal feet, interior pockets, and an outfit-polishing silhouette.
—
Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 13 June 2026
Prioritizing Features Over User Intent A common user experience mistake is polishing the surface instead of solving for the moment of intent.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Tasker and Grimm care for the space almost every day — watering plants, sweeping away sand, polishing the phone.
—Itay Hod, CBS News, 11 June 2026
However, Capcom has been hard at work polishing it like an authentic Hattori Hanzō sword.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 10 June 2026
Downstream lithography and ion implantation steps are also more demanding than for silicon, partly because SiC’s hardness complicates polishing and etch uniformity.
—Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
This is a popular hack for many cleaning professionals and can be especially effective at polishing faucets, lifting toothpaste residue, and removing water spots, all without the application of harsh chemicals.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 29 May 2026
Another highlight of my visit was experiencing Bastien's Manicure, an in-spa collaboration with nail-care specialists Bastien Gonzalez, which pairs meticulous cuticle work and a thorough massage with a natural nail-polishing technique that eliminates the need for nail polish entirely.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
There’s the difficulty of sintering and polishing the ceramic, and then there’s maintaining the purity of the look.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 13 June 2026
Prioritizing Features Over User Intent A common user experience mistake is polishing the surface instead of solving for the moment of intent.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Tasker and Grimm care for the space almost every day — watering plants, sweeping away sand, polishing the phone.
—Itay Hod, CBS News, 11 June 2026
However, Capcom has been hard at work polishing it like an authentic Hattori Hanzō sword.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 10 June 2026
Downstream lithography and ion implantation steps are also more demanding than for silicon, partly because SiC’s hardness complicates polishing and etch uniformity.
—Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
This is a popular hack for many cleaning professionals and can be especially effective at polishing faucets, lifting toothpaste residue, and removing water spots, all without the application of harsh chemicals.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 29 May 2026
Another highlight of my visit was experiencing Bastien's Manicure, an in-spa collaboration with nail-care specialists Bastien Gonzalez, which pairs meticulous cuticle work and a thorough massage with a natural nail-polishing technique that eliminates the need for nail polish entirely.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
There’s the difficulty of sintering and polishing the ceramic, and then there’s maintaining the purity of the look.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polishing
Verb
-
Use light pressure when rubbing the skin, and avoid washing multiple peaches at once to prevent them from bumping into each other.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
14 June 2026
-
My wife lowers her gaze as if tired, rubbing the side of her glass with her fingers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Brind’Amour played in only one NHL All-Star Game, received Hart Trophy votes in only one season (2005-06, finishing 10th), and hit the 80-point mark just four times.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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Few things feel as satisfying as a cold drink of water after mowing the lawn on a hot afternoon, finishing a tough workout or waking up thirsty in the middle of the night.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
As a wellness enthusiast who has seen Paris slowly catch up to cities like London in cutting-edge treatments, I was impressed by the Kobi-Dior offering, a luxurious take on the centuries-old Japanese wrinkle-smoothing facial.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2026
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This thong offers minimal coverage while offering the benefit of smoothing your lower stomach.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The Orange also dominated possession in the early goings, holding the ball for 69 percent of the first half and completing 307 passes versus Japan’s 130 passes.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
-
Iran plays in Inglewood, California, again next Sunday against Belgium, before completing the group stage in Seattle against Egypt on June 26.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Polishing is the process of buffing off the excess wax to create a shine.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
13 June 2026
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For appliances and fixtures such as faucets, start by sprinkling baking soda onto a damp rag, and buffing the stainless steel gently to clean and brighten.—
Alexandra Kelly,
Martha Stewart,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Dish soap’s surfactants bind to grease and water, lifting grime without scrubbing.—
Mallory Carra,
The Spruce,
14 June 2026
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But some of us are still scrubbing away at stains, thinking that is the only way to get rid of them.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Polishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polishing. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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