Meaning & use

varnished

adjective·Academic

Coated with a clear, glossy protective layer, especially over wood.

See it in a sentence

The freshly varnished floor gleamed under the afternoon light streaming through the windows.

She restored the old chair carefully, leaving it beautifully varnished and ready for display.

A note on using this word

Varnished is also used figuratively in the phrase 'unvarnished truth', meaning a plain account without embellishment.

Words with a similar meaning

lacqueredglazed

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

unvarnished

Another way to use it

2. verb

To coat wood or another surface with a clear, protective, glossy liquid.

She varnished the bookshelf twice to give it a smooth, glossy finish.

Make it your own

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