as in to polish
to cover (something) with varnish
He varnished the table.
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Recent Examples of varnish
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
The coarsest grades of steel wool can strip paint or varnish and remove rust from surfaces.
—Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2025
Eric Sullivan, Scientific American, 21 Feb. 2026
Finishes like polyurethane, varnish, or laminate add a protective topcoat to your cabinets to protect them from substances like grease.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for varnish
Verb
Refinish the door with stain or varnish that matches the rest of the kitchen cabinet doors.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
The coarsest grades of steel wool can strip paint or varnish and remove rust from surfaces.
—Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2025
Noun
The French mint reformulated its protective varnish after the European Union restricted chromium trioxide, a toxic chemical previously used to prevent corrosion.
—Eric Sullivan, Scientific American, 21 Feb. 2026
Finishes like polyurethane, varnish, or laminate add a protective topcoat to your cabinets to protect them from substances like grease.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for varnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for varnish
Verb
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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
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The relaxed fit keeps it comfortable in warm weather while still looking polished enough for evenings out.—
Amanda Eyre Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Careful not to overdo it, Streicher opted for a sheer rose gloss on the lips.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
4 June 2026
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An iridescent pink blush and nude-colored gloss finished off her look.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
3 June 2026
Verb
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To rub salt into the wounds of longtime fans, MLB agreed to waive its $300 million relocation fee.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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To season uncoated grates, rub them with a thin layer of oil and wipe away any excess.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The top is coral marble, with a long strip of Italian walnut veneer down the middle, and the base is crafted from fine beechwood, carved with geometric patterns.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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Inspired by old-fashioned railway carriages, the unit features discreet doors that blend elegantly into the African hardwood veneer.—
Annabelle Dufraigne,
Architectural Digest,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Its main ingredient, chebula, is a potent antioxidant that smooths and brightens skin.—
Christina Butan,
InStyle,
8 June 2026
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Add to the prepared baking pan and smooth into an even layer.—
Erin Merhar,
Southern Living,
7 June 2026
Noun
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For makeup department head Alexei Dmitriew and hair department head Ally Vickers, the task of coming up with the right amount of camouflage for Powell was one of trial and error.—
Carita Rizzo,
HollywoodReporter,
8 June 2026
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From there, Ritva created iterations of camouflage and match patterns to the rocks and her environment.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Over time, however, they can get coated in pesky grime and dust that restricts airflow and makes things look dingy.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
11 June 2026
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Regions like Brittany and Bordeaux have their own distinctive baking traditions, with buttery treats that come shaped like bicycle wheels or coated in beeswax.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Their eyes might glaze over, or fixate on some small detail that can be pocketed for future interpolation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
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The batter comes together fast, and there’s no icing or glaze to fuss over—just a quick sift of powdered sugar.—
Ginger Crichton,
Midwest Living,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Varnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/varnish. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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