POLISH Synonyms: 154 Similar and Opposite Words

polish 1 of 2

noun

Definition of polish

as in accomplishment

a high level of taste and enlightenment as a result of extensive intellectual training and exposure to the arts acquired a great deal of polish during his year abroad

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in gleam

brightness created by light reflected from a surface buffed the silver plate to a high polish

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

polish

2 of 2

verb

ˈpä-lish

as in to rub

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to finish

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 polish

Noun

Professional pumps and smart jewelry add an extra layer of polish for workplaces with slightly stricter dress codes. — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 29 June 2026 Your Core Message And Transitions Focus on presence before polish. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Verb

My picks include travel-friendly outfits that won’t wrinkle in your suitcase, sets that are polished enough to wear to dinner, and easy errand-running duos that take the stress out of getting dressed in the morning—all starting at just $15. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 22 June 2026 Its simple, optimistic message — polished with the help of BP’s sophisticated public relations expertise — had an irresistible allure. — Maddie Stone, ProPublica, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for polish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for polish

Noun

But even after a lifetime of effort to push this country forward, his story, vision and accomplishments are still just being acknowledged.

— Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Due to the difficulty of the greens, that feels like a major accomplishment.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

Definition of accomplishment

Noun

Then buff the steel with a dry cloth, wiping in the same direction as the metal's grain to bring back that gleam.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
There’s a hyperreal gleam to Clerkin’s guitar—acoustic but with none of the grain, a coffee-shop Henry Kaiser—and her guitar parts appear and vanish at will, like errant loops scattered on a digital audio workstation.

— Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 5 June 2026

Definition of gleam

Verb

An agitator is a post in the machine’s center that twists so the clothes can rub against each other, while impellers have a cone or disc on the bottom of the drum that spins.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2026
Thyme When their essential oils are released and rubbed onto the skin, thyme plants, including creeping thyme, can help keep mosquitoes away.

— Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 5 July 2026

Definition of rub

Verb

That was a 2019 Bahamas Bowl loss in Will Healy’s first season at Charlotte, which finished 7-6 for the 49ers’ lone winning season since elevating to the FBS in 2015.

— Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
His youngest daughter is now among the six candidates in the special election that will decide who finishes his term.

— Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of finish

Noun

Inspired by the polished, effortless style of icons like Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, the trend embraces quiet luxury through timeless cuts, glossy finishes, and an overall sense of refinement.

— Christina Perrier, InStyle, 2 July 2026
With Venus entering your sign, this is also a period of refinement, making this a good time to update your style, routines or prices.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026

Definition of refinement

Noun

This glowing take on guava nails features green polish with a pink cat-eye glint.

— Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 29 June 2026
They were joined by a growing number of international rescue teams who began to climb through the rubble, offering a small glint of hope to anguished families.

— Regina Cano Garcia, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026

Definition of glint

Verb

The hair at the crown is smoothed back but not slick—in fact, there’s a decent amount of volume up top—with virtually no visible part.

— Marci Robin, Allure, 2 July 2026
Dual suspension helps smooth rough trails, hydraulic disc brakes provide dependable stopping power in changing conditions, and four-inch fat tires improve traction across gravel, dirt, sand, and pavement.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 July 2026

Definition of smooth

Verb

Before Greene's first homer, Kerry Carpenter hit a solo shot in which center fielder Spencer Jones could not complete a leaping catch at the right-center field fence and saw the ball pop out of his glove into the Yankees' bullpen.

— CBS New York Team, CBS News, 1 July 2026
During his tenure, ownership of the team shifted from the O’Malley family to Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Entertainment Group, which completed the purchase of the Dodgers in March 1998.

— Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of complete

Cite this Entry

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“Polish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polish. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of polish

noun

verb

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