overpolished
Excessively rubbed smooth
Overpolished describes something refined or smoothed to the point of losing character or authenticity.
Writing that is overpolished may feel sterile, lacking the rough edges that give prose life: The manuscript felt overpolished, every spontaneous moment edited away.
Furniture or surfaces can be overpolished until they lose texture or patina.
The word implies that polish, usually desirable, has been taken too far.
Showing extreme attention to detail
- fastidiousExcessively attentive to detail
- finickyExcessively particular, hard to satisfy
- fussyExcessively particular
- nitpickingExcessive focus on trivialities
persnickety · punctilious · exacting · obsessive · anal-retentive · overworked · overthought · belabored
Capable of being molded
- syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
- fauxArtificial or imitation
- ersatzArtificial and inferior substitute
- contrivedDeliberately manufactured, unnatural
forced · manufactured · calculated · rehearsed · studied · affected · stilted · stiff
Showy, often tastelessly so
- gaudyTastelessly ornate
- slickSmooth or craftily adept
- pretentiousFalsely grand or important
- ostentatiousShowily excessive
garish · glitzy · overdressed · overwrought · excessive · ornate · theatrical · grandiose
meticulous
Showing extreme attention to detail
- fastidiousExcessively attentive to detail
- finickyExcessively particular, hard to satisfy
- fussyExcessively particular
nitpicking · persnickety · punctilious · exacting · obsessive · anal-retentive · overworked · overthought · belabored · overwrought
plastic
Capable of being molded
- syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
- fauxArtificial or imitation
- ersatzArtificial and inferior substitute
contrived · forced · manufactured · calculated · rehearsed · studied · affected · stilted · stiff · unnatural
flashy
Showy, often tastelessly so
- gaudyTastelessly ornate
- slickSmooth or craftily adept
- pretentiousFalsely grand or important
ostentatious · garish · glitzy · overdressed · overwrought · excessive · ornate · theatrical · grandiose · pompous
shallow
Without much depth
- veneerDecorative outer layer
- facadeDeceptive outward appearance
- cosmeticSurface-level appearance enhancer
surface-level · skin-deep · insincere · glib · slick · hollow · empty · vacuous · substanceless · smooth-talking
shiny
Reflecting light smoothly
lacquered · varnished · waxed · glazed · sleek · slick · glassy · reflective · mirror-like · sheeny
overpolishedrough
Uneven in surface
unpolished · raw · coarse · unfinished · textured
overpolishedraw
In original state
authentic · genuine · natural · unaffected · unvarnished