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to revarnish

to revarnish

7.4
To make a reputation or image look better by hiding problems
  • verb
  • /ˌriːˈvɑrnɪʃ/
translation icon : revarnizar
  • The politician tried to revarnish his reputation after the controversy by launching a charity campaign.

Examples

  • After years of neglect, the museum attempted to revarnish its public image with a new exhibition.

  • The company hoped to revarnish its brand by updating its logo and website design.

  • She decided to revarnish the old table.

  • The furniture store revarnishes its products regularly.

  • The politician tried to revarnish his reputation after the controversy by launching a charity campaign.

  • After years of neglect, the museum attempted to revarnish its public image with a new exhibition.

  • The company hoped to revarnish its brand by updating its logo and website design.

Synonyms

to redecorate
vsto revarnish
41 3.2

To change the inside of a room by adding new paint, wallpaper, or furniture

tends to mean lighter cosmetic tweaks to conceal issues
to revamp
vsto revarnish
41 4.9

To change something to make it look or work better

prefers minor surface changes rather than deep renovation
to refurbish
vsto revarnish
31 4.6

To make something clean and like new by fixing or decorating it

is less thorough, concentrating on surface look rather than repair
to whitewash
vsto revarnish
12 6.0

To hide bad facts to make something seem better

does similar hiding but usually by light cosmetic fixes
to retouch
vsto revarnish
8 4.2

To make small changes to the look of hair or a photo

uses similar small fixes but mainly to cover faults
to freshen up
vsto revarnish
  • Informal
4 3.0

Make a room look cleaner and nicer with small changes

often instead uses minor surface changes aimed at concealment
to varnish
vsto revarnish
1 6.6

To make something look better by hiding its problems

focuses specifically on small surface changes that conceal deeper problems
to put lipstick on a pig
vsto revarnish
  • Informal
1 8.4

To make small changes to something bad so it looks better without fixing the real problem

is like that but often in less blunt or joking language
to buff up
vsto revarnish
  • Informal
1 5.8

To make something better in how it works or how it looks

focuses more on cosmetic concealment than genuine repair
to prettify
vsto revarnish
1 5.0

Make something look more attractive, often only on the surface

leans toward hiding problems through superficial appearance changes
to reface
vsto revarnish
1 6.7

To put new material on the surface of something so it looks new

uses smaller cosmetic coverings aimed at hiding faults
to regild
vsto revarnish
8.3

To make something look more attractive or valuable again, often to hide faults

uses smaller visual or reputational touches to hide flaws
to burnish reputation
vsto revarnish
7.7

To improve how people think about someone after a mistake

focuses more on small outward fixes to conceal issues
to burnish public image
vsto revarnish
7.0

To make the public think better of a person or company

relies more on surface appearance changes than deep reform
to reimage
vsto revarnish
  • Jargon
6.8

To change how people see a person, company, or product

is narrower, using minor surface changes rather than full reinvention
to repolish
vsto revarnish
4.2

Improve writing or a presentation by making small changes

aims instead at quick outer improvements to hide faults
to furbish up
vsto revarnish
  • Archaic
6.2

To make something old look new by fixing or cleaning it

is usually more superficial and focused on hiding problems

Antonyms

146 2.8

Make something visible by removing a cover or letting light reach it

How Superficial

to whitewash
12 6.0
to revarnish
7.4
to rebrand
15 3.9
to improve
1.0

Surface Forms

revarnish infinitive
revarnished past participle
revarnishing present participle
revarnishes third person singular

Morphology

revarnish = varnish (semi-transparent) = re + varnish

The sense is a figurative extension meaning 'to improve appearance or reputation' and thus is not a strictly literal 'coat again' reading for all learners.

Etymology

Revarnish combines re- 'again' and varnish, a shiny protective coat. The second meaning is an easy image to remember: putting a fresh 'coat' on something to make it look better on the surface or to hide small faults.