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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Relevance

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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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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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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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

Smooth it through damp hair before styling or use a few drops on dry lengths for an extra hit of shine and polish. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026 Just as versatile as black, dark brown adds a touch of warmth and effortless polish to your outfits, capturing the season’s more chic, boundary-pushing aesthetic. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2026

Verb

Live Edit, Video Capture, and Formats Snap Pro 26 continues to build on past iterations' strengths by keeping what worked and further polishing it. — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026 Weeks for the shiny new parts to be polished up before being put on the road. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for polish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for polish

Noun

It’s often said that great athletes struggle to talk about their sport and their accomplishments.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
McGuiness’ in-ring appearances have been few and far between but getting back in shape to make it through to the end is an accomplishment in and of itself.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of accomplishment

Noun

As mills experiment with luxury materials and new technologies, denim is being reimagined with a greater emphasis on tactility, refinement and elevated performance—while still preserving its core identity.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
This means moving beyond passive consumption and toward a rigorous, iterative process of trial, error, and refinement.

— Jason Corso, Time, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of refinement

Noun

There’s a glint of Miss Piggy’s quick wit in the comedic edge and blonde ambitions of Jennifer Coolidge.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Steve Gleason, co-founder of Crowfoot Range and a member of the Avimor neighborhood watch, was the first to point out the glint of a pickup truck on the far hill.

— Noah Daly August 6, Idaho Statesman, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of glint

Verb

Its stretchy, wireless design has extra coverage and smoothing side panels that create a cleaner silhouette without squeezing.

— Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
The formula includes lactic acid, a chemical exfoliator that breaks down dead skin, for a double dose of skin-smoothing power.

— Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of smooth

Verb

Gordon was completed swiftly, earning Newcastle more money than anticipated (with €70m benchmarked).

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Five to six years ago, certainly, people were not thinking about agentic AI systems that can plan and complete multi-step tasks with little to no human intervention.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026