polished
adjective
pol·ished ˈpä-lisht 
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
- buffed
- burnished
- glistening
- glossy
- lustrous
- rubbed
- satin
- satiny
- sleek
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Everything needs to have a polished look in Cox’s home and that includes the dishes. 
Swarna Gowtham, Town & Country, 18 Aug. 2022 Lubitsch’s early American films have a cool, polished look. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 Basics come in bright pops of color for a fun, but polished look. Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 28 July 2022 Once the wood is smooth and clean, use synthetic paint brushes to apply two coats of stain for a uniform, polished look. Daniel Bortz, Washington Post, 30 June 2022 However, scratches on wood floors can distract from the polished look of a room. Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2022 There’s good use of archival footage, and a polished look to new material shot on myriad locations. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 4 May 2022 Being too polished can work against you, especially on social media. Kelly Schwarze, Rolling Stone, 10 Aug. 2022 Paired with white fixtures and minimal accessories, the look is polished, not overbearing. Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Aug. 2022 See More
Swarna Gowtham, Town & Country, 18 Aug. 2022 Lubitsch’s early American films have a cool, polished look. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 Basics come in bright pops of color for a fun, but polished look. Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 28 July 2022 Once the wood is smooth and clean, use synthetic paint brushes to apply two coats of stain for a uniform, polished look. Daniel Bortz, Washington Post, 30 June 2022 However, scratches on wood floors can distract from the polished look of a room. Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2022 There’s good use of archival footage, and a polished look to new material shot on myriad locations. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 4 May 2022 Being too polished can work against you, especially on social media. Kelly Schwarze, Rolling Stone, 10 Aug. 2022 Paired with white fixtures and minimal accessories, the look is polished, not overbearing. Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Aug. 2022 See More 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
polished 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in sleek
having a shiny surface or finish she could see her face reflected in the polished hood of the car Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sleek
- glossy
- glistening
- burnished
- satin
- gleaming
- buffed
- rubbed
- glittering
- lustrous
- brushed
- lacquered
- varnished
- glazed
- shining
- silky
- satiny
- reflective
- slick
- glassy
- shellacked
- semilustrous
- silken
- semigloss
- eggshell
- slippery
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dull
- flat
- dim
- lusterless
- lackluster
- mat
- matte
- unvarnished
- matt
2
as in cultured
having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living showing the polished manners of a cosmopolitan woman Synonyms & Similar Words
- cultured
- civilized
- accomplished
- refined
- cultivated
- educated
- polite
- sophisticated
- civil
- couth
- scholarly
- genteel
- literate
- cerebral
- cosmopolitan
- intellectual
- highbrow
- erudite
- courteous
- intellectualistic
- urbane
- knowledgeable
- learned
- bourgeois
- highbrowed
- middlebrow
- high-toned
- intellectualist
- mannerly
- well-read
- well-bred
- overcivilized
- hypercivilized
- oversophisticated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unpolished
- unrefined
- uncivilized
- barbaric
- ignorant
- barbarous
- uncultured
- uneducated
- illiterate
- coarse
- ungenteel
- unlettered
- rustic
- unintelligent
- philistine
- lowbrow
- provincial
- crude
- unsophisticated
- inelegant
- backwoods
- polyester
- uncouth
- vulgar
- rustical
- boorish
- clownish
- cloddish
- churlish
- ill-mannered
- ill-bred
polished
2 of 2verb
1
as in smoothed
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
- smoothed
- rubbed
- shined
- coated
- burnished
- buffed
- scrubbed
- glossed
- shone
- finished
- dressed
- scraped
- ground
- sanded
- lacquered
- varnished
- furbished
- smoothened
- glazed
- slicked
- bobbed
- sandblasted
- sleeked
- veneered
- japanned
- faced
- brightened
- sandpapered
- boned
- filed
- lapped
- scoured
- rasped
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- roughened
- scuffed (up)
- roughed (up)
- ruffled
2
as in finished
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- finished
- completed
- perfected
- accomplished
- finalized
- consummated
- executed
- got through
- fulfilled
- refined
- did
- improved
- achieved
- stuck out
- performed
- shined
- effected
- enhanced
- machined
- enriched
- carried out
- amended
- bettered
- shone
- ameliorated
- carried through
- discharged
- meliorated
- followed through (with)
- touched up
- rounded (off or out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- abandoned
- dropped
- deserted
- discontinued
- quit
- quitted
- forsook
- the norm
- the Norse
- the north
- the North Pole
- the North Star
- the northeast
- the Northern Lights
- the northwest
- the novelty wears off
- the nub
- the obvious
- the Occident
- the occult
- the odd man out
- the odd man/one out
- the odd one out
- the odds are in favor of
- the odds are in favor of (something)
- the odds are in favor of something
- the off
- the offside
- the old adam
- the old country
- the old guard
- the old heave-ho