How to Use varnish in a Sentence

varnish

1 of 2 noun
Definition of varnishnext
Synonyms for varnishnext
  • The Wachters spoke of the many that have caught fire, sometimes due to the varnish used on the wooden ships.
    — Linda Gandee/special To Cleveland.com, cleveland.com, 10 July 2017
  • The pieces are then finished with matte paint and a coat of varnish.
    — Alexa Brazilian, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024
  • Hailey Bieber is the latest celeb to make a case for red nail varnish.
    — Hannah Oh, Seventeen, 3 Nov. 2022
  • The process involves spraying on a durable varnish, rather than paint.
    — Marissa Hermanson, Washington Post, 28 Nov. 2022
  • These scented candles have notes of wood and varnish to evoke their book-laden dream home.
    — Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 1 Dec. 2023
  • The sentences are laid on like varnish, coat after coat, until the text gleams with a high shine.
    — Ryu Spaeth, The New Republic, 4 May 2018
  • Use a holesaw to cut the drink-holder holes, and finish the veneered ring with three coats of polyurethane varnish.
    — Neal Barrett, Popular Mechanics, 7 Aug. 2021
  • The other varnish was added after the painting was stolen.
    — Anne Ryman, The Arizona Republic, 7 June 2022
  • The varnish on the cabinets above the stove began bubbling.
    — Washington Post, 28 Nov. 2021
  • But Iowa stripped Penn State’s high-flying offense of its varnish.
    — Scott Dochterman, ajc, 24 Sep. 2017
  • Hidden beneath the varnish was an adult rattlesnake, stretched out full length.
    — Barbara Henry, sandiegouniontribune.com, 7 June 2018
  • First, the researchers needed to remove the varnish to avoid mixed ages from two different sources.
    — The Economist, 8 June 2019
  • Each plate takes 10 minutes to expose, prep, and develop and then 30 mins to clean, dry, and then it is sealed with varnish and an open flame.
    — Mallory Carra, Teen Vogue, 6 Feb. 2020
  • The varnish strengthens it against the weather and prevent cracks, splinters, and warping.
    — Emma Bazilian, House Beautiful, 15 June 2023
  • What’s more, a layer of varnish had settled over the painting’s surface.
    — Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Dec. 2023
  • The woodworker had carved a channel into the oak board and slid the snake inside before putting the finishing coats of varnish on the piece.
    — Barbara Henry, sandiegouniontribune.com, 7 June 2018
  • But the formaldehyde-free conversion varnish isn’t so durable.
    — Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022
  • Coat wood with clear varnish to protect the handwriting from the elements.
    — Jill Gleeson, Country Living, 23 Mar. 2023
  • On the dressing table were bottles of nail varnish, face lotion, pots of cream, and boxes of powder.
    — Michael Hofmann, Harper's Magazine, 27 Oct. 2020
  • The second step is to apply several coats of a matte varnish.
    — Michelle Higgins, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2018
  • From Deborah Lippmann’s lavender varnish to Chantecaille's light pink lacquer, here are 9 of the to give you a boost as the season goes on.
    — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2020
  • On the exterior, the lowrider’s delicate chrome and gold plating sparkles against the car’s rich, olive-green varnish.
    — Natalie Arroyo Camacho, refinery29.com, 12 Sep. 2023
  • The recent share-price performance for some of the world’s largest cosmetics and skin-care product makers needs no varnish.
    — Jacky Wong, WSJ, 21 June 2018
  • Perhaps a dozen small shopkeepers sell paint, varnish and hardware to the artisans, as well as to passing trade.
    — The Economist, 24 Feb. 2018
  • Pampering, for most boat owners, means the occasional wash and wax, an oil change, and perhaps a fresh coat of varnish for the woodwork.
    — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 12 May 2023
  • Above the cluttered workbench hang three perfect mandolins glowing in the morning light, waiting for their varnish to cure.
    — Maria L. La Ganga, idahostatesman, 21 Dec. 2017
  • The signature of the artist and the date 1634 (four years earlier than originally thought) were hidden under varnish on the curtain at the top of the painting.
    — Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Dec. 2023
  • Chemists have also scrutinized the red varnish that Stradivari started using in the 1690s.
    — Chuck Squatriglia, Popular Science, 10 Jan. 2020
  • In time, there’s oxidized nutty notes, then leather oils which stray towards varnish.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 14 July 2023
  • Each child was assigned either traditional sealants or SDF, followed by a fluoride varnish.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024
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varnish

2 of 2 verb
  • The cake was varnished in this dark chocolate goo-cream.
    — Chris Erskine, latimes.com, 16 May 2017
  • The triple-doored case of the Coco de Mer was varnished and polished, with a lid coated with bronze.
    — Carol Besler, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2023
  • As such, people could use it as a paint or varnish to protect things.
    — Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 9 Feb. 2022
  • The backs of the boxes are varnished, but covered with grease, sauce and cheese underneath.
    — Taylor Hartz, chicagotribune.com, 6 Nov. 2019
  • Granted, the time spent in sorrow over his bad fate is varnished over with tons of humor.
    — Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2023
  • Adding this same paint varnish on the retail version ensures every detail is the same as Swiatek's.
    — Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2022
  • Like the timber caprail, the wood is treated with oil rather than varnish to reduce maintenance and steer away from a high-gloss finish.
    — Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 18 Nov. 2022
  • The kitchen is unusual in that its counters are not new marble or quartz, but varnished walnut, which matches the floor.
    — Judy Rose, Detroit Free Press, 22 Feb. 2020
  • Smith says his father would spend hours cutting out, sanding and varnishing wooden shields to mount his antlers.
    — Allen G. Breed, chicagotribune.com, 23 May 2018
  • The highest levels were found in the plastic window blinds, in keeping with previous research finding high levels of meth in PVC, polyurethane, and stained or varnished wood.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 9 Oct. 2019
  • Using medium-grade sandpaper, sand down the front and edges of wooden, painted or varnished doors or drawer fronts with power sander or sanding block.
    — House Beautiful, 11 May 2017
  • Using medium-grade sandpaper, sand down the front and edges of wooden, painted or varnished doors or drawer fronts with power sander or sanding block.
    — House Beautiful, 14 Nov. 2017
  • There’s no time required for sanding, staining or varnishing.
    — Joesph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 8 Dec. 2019
  • Artists are also always being willing to touch-up and varnish their creations, as needed, which is also a huge help to the organization.
    — Melanie Savage, Hartford Courant, 9 Nov. 2022
  • Before environmental laws curtailed its application, lead was widely added to paint used in homes and schools, to varnish used on toys, to plumbing pipes and to fuel for cars.
    — Emily Langer, Washington Post, 20 July 2017
  • Popular Mechanics purists from the ‘30s would probably roll over in their graves upon hearing that, but acrylic urethane is harder and superior to varnish.
    — Jim Eicher, Popular Mechanics, 2 June 2020
  • The company achieved a lighter weight vessel by hand-painting it with an epoxy composite that looks like Hinckley's signature varnished teak look without the weight or maintenance costs associated with real teak wood.
    — Kirsten Korosec, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2017
  • Football is an intoxicatingly popular product, with a lot of parties benefitting from the largesse, and more than happy to varnish the sport’s reputation.
    — Jason Gay, WSJ, 14 Oct. 2021
  • However, when lacquered or varnished, the material is just fine for general purposes.
    — Taysha Murtaugh, Country Living, 15 Jan. 2019
  • His Eckardt, while brutally funny, is an avatar for America in the age of alternate facts: a pathetic man-child, desperate for validation, who varnishes his inadequacies with cockiness and bravado.
    — Dante A. Ciampaglia, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2018
  • The playwright, who quickly has become famous, is himself an outspoken personality, a writer and walking fashion statement, a playwright thoroughly disinclined to varnish anything with the veneer of acceptability.
    — Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 13 Sep. 2019
  • The cake was varnished in this dark chocolate goo-cream.
    — Chris Erskine, latimes.com, 16 May 2017
  • The triple-doored case of the Coco de Mer was varnished and polished, with a lid coated with bronze.
    — Carol Besler, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2023
  • As such, people could use it as a paint or varnish to protect things.
    — Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 9 Feb. 2022
  • The backs of the boxes are varnished, but covered with grease, sauce and cheese underneath.
    — Taylor Hartz, chicagotribune.com, 6 Nov. 2019
  • Granted, the time spent in sorrow over his bad fate is varnished over with tons of humor.
    — Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2023
  • Adding this same paint varnish on the retail version ensures every detail is the same as Swiatek's.
    — Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2022
  • Like the timber caprail, the wood is treated with oil rather than varnish to reduce maintenance and steer away from a high-gloss finish.
    — Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 18 Nov. 2022
  • The kitchen is unusual in that its counters are not new marble or quartz, but varnished walnut, which matches the floor.
    — Judy Rose, Detroit Free Press, 22 Feb. 2020
  • Smith says his father would spend hours cutting out, sanding and varnishing wooden shields to mount his antlers.
    — Allen G. Breed, chicagotribune.com, 23 May 2018

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'varnish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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