burnishes

verb

present tense third-person singular of burnish
as in rubs
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure burnished the floor of the ballroom to a soft luster

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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 burnishes At a time when Erdogan is struggling to resolve the country's growing economic problems, responding to Netanyahu's statements harshly scores points domestically and burnishes his strong leader image. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026 The contract, further enmeshing JPMorgan with a dominant tech player, burnishes the bank’s reputation as a leader in American finance. — Hugh Son,leslie Picker,laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 7 Jan. 2026 Unconcerned by matters like health insurance and 401(k) contributions, her presence burnishes the reputation of the magazine as an arbiter of good taste. — New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025 In exchange, the company burnishes its halo of high-mindedness, receives the right to feature famous works on its T-shirts, and gets to stage events in empty galleries or under an iconic glass pyramid, furthering the idea that its interests lie in Life as much as in Wear. — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burnishes
  1. rubs
  2. polishes
  3. smooths
  4. shines
Verb
  • Achord stands behind Smack each time and, before one kick, rubs his belly with his other hand over his head as some sort of signal.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • But during the following two years, Van Lith saw only gigantic tracks and adrenaline-inspiring antler rubs that had been left behind by the buck of his dreams.
    — Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of rubs
Verb
  • While a classic button-down shirt is always timeless, a peplum top offers the same wearability with a waist-defining silhouette that instantly polishes any bottom they’re paired with.
    — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The PowerPaste polishes and protects more delicate surfaces, while the Tangerine Clean is more abrasive for serious scrubbing.
    — Brittany VanDerBill, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2026
Definition of polishes
Verb
  • After a thorough cleanse and gua sha to encourage lymphatic drainage, Galina smooths on a cooling mask and leaves it to work its magic while turning her attention to my scalp.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • At its center is wild soybean extract fermented for a whopping 120 hours, a process that breaks down the ingredient's components and creates a lightweight, nourishing formula that smooths the look of skin texture and keeps excess sebum in check.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of smooths
Verb
  • In Los Angeles, for example, there’s a billboard that shows an image of a smiling girl wearing Meta glasses, with her fingers placed to draw attention to the recording light that shines as brightly as her grin.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Parton’s legacy shines on in her obvious and not necessarily as obvious successors.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of shines

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Burnishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnishes. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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