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
  • Vapor rubs containing combinations of camphor, eucalyptus and menthol oils may provide some relief for nighttime cough and cold symptoms when applied to the chest and neck.
    — Andee Tagle, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026
  • There’s a slickness to the carnage that rubs uncomfortably against the film’s humanist ethos, rendering artificial (for all Shen Teng’s trembling and mouth-contorting labors) the horrific tragedies that befall its characters.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 13 Oct. 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
  • Massaging it into the scalp promotes growth (stimulating blood flow to the area is how the magic happens), while applying it through the lengths reduces breakage and smoothes each strand for a silky, frizz-free finish.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 23 Oct. 2026
  • All of this pillow talk smooths Kate’s path to selling Hal on her idea of extracting the bodies from the Russian sub.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of smooths
Verb
  • Reese wants to be known as one of the best players in the WNBA, and those players are the ones who show up when the spotlight shines brightest.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Beneath the laughter ran a celebration of disability in comedy, with Way’s command of the room demonstrating exactly why Alden shines in the show.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of shines

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Cite this Entry

“Burnishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burnishes. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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