Synonyms of burnishes

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rubs
• polishes
• smooths
• shines
• coats
• scrapes
• glosses
• grinds
• buffs
• scrubs
• sands
• smoothens
• dresses
• furbishes
• finishes
• brightens
• glazes
• varnishes
• bobs
• faces
• slicks
• sleeks
• files
• scours
• sandblasts
• bones
• veneers
• lacquers
• sandpapers
• japans
• rasps
• laps

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• roughens
• ruffles
• roughs (up)
• scuffs (up)

Example Sentences

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