What is another word for polishing?

Common synonyms for polishing include polish, round, roundoff, finetune, shine.

What is the opposite of polishing?

Antonyms of polishing include dulling, roughening, marring, soiling, clouding.

Synonyms for

Polishing

Verb / ˈpɑ:lɪʃɪŋ / Another word for polishing — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

to make something smooth and shiny by rubbing it

Synonyms & similar words

polish round roundoff finetune shine down brushup smoothen polishup smooth shining refine buffing shining burnishing sanding smoothing rubbing grinding finishing glazing lustering brightening glossing furbishing scouring cleaning waxing varnishing lapping faceting planing

Synonyms by register

Formal

refining buffing burnishing finishing

Informal

sprucing up tidying shining up

Literary

gleaming lustering

Antonyms

dulling roughening marring soiling clouding denting

Common collocations

polishing shoes
polishing silver
polishing skills
polishing the surface
polishing a gem
polishing up an essay
polishing brass

Word family

noun polish

verb polish

adjective polished

adverb politely

Usage note

While 'polishing' often refers to making a surface shiny, it can also mean improving or refining something, such as skills or an essay. Be mindful of the context to understand the intended meaning.

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