1
as in rubbing
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in finishing
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
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Recent Examples of polishing
Speak steadily to keep polishing your reputation.
—
Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026
The hum of polishing wheels bleeds through half-open doors.
—Parin Moradiya, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Cut up an old blanket into manageable squares for staining furniture, dusting, cleaning mirrors, wiping up spills, polishing silver, and more.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
There’s nothing wrong with polishing your game in college football, especially with what starting quarterbacks are being paid -—$2 million to $4 million — in today’s NIL era of college athletics.
—Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
Witch Hat was delayed by a year to allow its production team at Bug Films to work extra hard on polishing the animation, and its music was composed by Yuka Kitamura, known for her masterful scores on FromSoftware games like Elden Ring, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026
Brisker’s top tip for achieving the look is to use a large, natural-bristle round brush with a wooden base, which avoids over-polishing the hair.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2025
Its style was in many ways a refinement of the final run of Diablos, smoothing and polishing the old car’s edges while adding strength and modernity to the design.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
At one point, convinced that one of the screenwriters who was on set polishing the script was leaking information to Weinstein, Scorsese rushed into the office and flung his desk out the window.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polishing
Verb
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Moore picks up her little one and starts kissing her all over, rubbing her up and down her chest.—
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According to the court document, students said they were videotaped alone in a classroom with Illanes, with allegations of removing clothing and rubbing their backs.—
Verb
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Shough spent three seasons at Oregon and Texas Tech before finishing at Louisville in 2024.—
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If schedules clash, suggest a two-step approach, like meeting online first and finishing later.—
Verb
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Phased retirement can also help companies to manage the consequences of the looming workforce contraction by forestalling brain drain and smoothing succession planning — all while preserving the institutional knowledge and relationships that help companies thrive.—
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Pour batter into prepared baking pan, spreading to edges and smoothing top.—
Verb
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And, one after another, her children followed the same path of completing one or two years of college before dropping out and launching families of their own.—
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Not only is the actual lighting itself important for completing tasks and creating ambiance, but the fixtures also double as decor.—
Verb
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Polishing is the process of buffing off the excess wax to create a shine.—
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To start, apply a base coat that's similar to your nails, and finish off by buffing in a milky white hue on the tips.—
Verb
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Pull everything out and give your pantry a thorough cleaning, scrubbing down shelves and washing bins and baskets.—
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But trust us, the answer is not scrubbing harder.—
Cite this Entry
“Polishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polishing. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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