as in to polish
to cover (something) with varnish
He varnished the table.
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Recent Examples of varnish
Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 10 Dec. 2024
The floor is put into the frame after the flooring panels have been varnished to stop water damage to the wood.
—Cmg Containers, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2024
Josh Condon, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2024
In addition to water, there are other fluoride exposure sources, including toothpaste, dental varnishes, and certain foods and beverages that are naturally high in the mineral like black tea, coffee, and shellfish.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for varnish
Verb
Under the apartment’s roof, for example, cellulose insulation boards were left exposed, and then varnished, without being concealed behind drywall.
—Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 10 Dec. 2024
The floor is put into the frame after the flooring panels have been varnished to stop water damage to the wood.
—Cmg Containers, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2024
Noun
Strip away the varnish of nostalgia and you’re left with the fact that a chronograph wristwatch is about as useful to a modern-day Formula One driver as a mercury thermometer.
—Josh Condon, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2024
In addition to water, there are other fluoride exposure sources, including toothpaste, dental varnishes, and certain foods and beverages that are naturally high in the mineral like black tea, coffee, and shellfish.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for varnish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for varnish
Verb
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The formal coupes are polished using specialty techniques to reveal a reflective, opalescent finish.—
Maria Conti,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2025
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Elevated by fluted panels and a duo of discreet storage drawers, its look is polished enough to nimbly complement non-office settings.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
3 June 2025
Noun
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Behind the gloss of aspirational social-media content are complex surgeries with real consequences.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 May 2025
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For those considering blonde, Hazan recommends the Glaze Super Gloss—a semi-permanent conditioning gloss that boosts color and shine.—
Robyn Merrett,
StyleCaster,
20 May 2025
Verb
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So in the long run, even somewhere like Oxford won't be rubbing their hands with glee if life is harder for Harvard — because Oxford and Harvard do projects together.—
Willem Marx,
NPR,
5 June 2025
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Privately, Musk rubbed a number of senior officials the wrong way during his time in government, and his complaints about a key legislative goal may further agitate his critics in the administration.—
Miranda Nazzaro,
The Hill,
4 June 2025
Noun
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The Apple study's revelation that AI reasoning models fail when faced with true complexity mirrors how overconfident individuals often struggle with genuinely challenging problems while maintaining their persuasive veneer.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Her no-preparation veneers, an advanced technique that enhances smiles without removing natural tooth structure, exemplify this philosophy.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Who doesn’t love a pair of leggings that sucks you in and smoothes your midsection?—
Elizabeth Mitchell Kadar,
Glamour,
2 June 2025
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The team was accused of stuffing and smoothing the seams of the rear attenuator, a part that is standard for all teams and therefore cannot be modified.—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2025
Noun
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With windswept hair, a $50 camouflage jacket and sporty backpack, Princess Charlotte beamed into her mother’s iPhone camera during a family hike in Cumbria in northwest England earlier this year.—
Monique Jessen,
People.com,
8 May 2025
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The video had racked up more than 100,000 comments and reactions as of April 30, many noting his lack of shoes and that matching camouflage outfit.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Scherzinger’s face was contoured and coated in a warm bronzer to match the shimmery sunset shadow on her eyes.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
9 June 2025
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Hold cake square over bowl of glaze and, using a small ladle or a serving spoon, ladle glaze all over cake square, making sure to coat all sides.—
Ann Taylor Pittman,
Southern Living,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Mayan Octopus At Woodend by Curtis Stone in the Riviera Maya, local octopus is grilled over embers and glazed with pineapple gastrique and chili chilhuacle romesco.—
Kaila Yu,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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But while your eyes may glaze over hearing about how AI impacts the latest Google search results or the customer service industry, there’s one area that’s worth paying attention to: AI’s potential impact on dementia care.—
Korin Miller,
Flow Space,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Varnish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/varnish. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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