polished

adjective

pol·​ished ˈpä-lisht How to pronounce polished (audio)
Synonyms of polishednext
1
: subjected to polishing : made smooth and glossy by or as if by polishing
a polished surface
polished silver
2
: characterized by a high degree of development, finish, or refinement : free from imperfections
a polished performance/performer
a highly polished piece of writing
3
somewhat old-fashioned : characterized by elegance and refinement
a polished gentleman
polished society

Synonyms of polished

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Examples of polished in a Sentence

she could see her face reflected in the polished hood of the car showing the polished manners of a cosmopolitan woman
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Savvy, polished, and highly educated, Anaya is the eldest Clarke sibling and the mayor of Trinity City. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026 December 22 – January 19 Your public life gets a polished advantage. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026 Recently, she was spotted out and about in a pair of straight-leg jeans and a striped polo shirt — proving that even her most casual outfits feel polished and intentional. — Jacquelyn McGilvray, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026 The Foundation also commissioned a polished bronze statuette from Danish artist Esben Weile Kjær, which was presented to the Kühl. — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for polished

Word History

Etymology

Middle English polisshed, from past participle of polisshen to polish

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of polished was in the 14th century

Rhymes for polished

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Browse Nearby Words

Polish Corridor
polished
polished rice
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Cite this Entry

“Polished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polished. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on polished

Nglish: Translation of polished for Spanish Speakers

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