1
as in to sharpen
to make sharp or sharper
honed the knife's blade to razor-like sharpness honed his crossword-puzzle skills by reading the dictionary as though it were a thrilling novel
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction
honed the edge of the axe until it was amazingly sharp
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hone
Letourneau honed that narrative approach during his decade-plus as a sportswriter.
—
Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
Johannesen added that Americans’ love of cooking, honed during the pandemic, has merged into this moment of at-home entertaining.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
The first step in honing this mindset is to figure out your starting point, Chopra says.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
Conveying the Crucifixion and subsequent anguish using only voice provided an opportunity for Pelphrey to hone a new set of skills.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hone
Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
Johannesen added that Americans’ love of cooking, honed during the pandemic, has merged into this moment of at-home entertaining.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
The first step in honing this mindset is to figure out your starting point, Chopra says.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
Conveying the Crucifixion and subsequent anguish using only voice provided an opportunity for Pelphrey to hone a new set of skills.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hone
Verb
-
March 21 – April 19 Aries, your focus sharpens around practical moves.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2026
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The pope has increasingly sharpened his criticism of war in recent weeks, repeatedly calling for an immediate ceasefire and saying military airstrikes are indiscriminate and should be banned.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mona says, rub her down with alcohol, then some Vicks, put the kettle on for the hot water bottle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
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Nakua discussed touchdown celebrations on YouTuber Adin Ross' stream, and, in the video, Ross instructed Nakua to spike the ball, flex and then rub his hands together.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Swap to the higher grit stone and repeat the whole process to polish and set the edge.—
Jesse Raub,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
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The program acts almost like a navigation map for individuals intent on entering the sector, from polishing resumes to grasping industry dynamics.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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So, Navon and her husband undertook a full restoration, sanding and staining them a honey-oak hue that warms up the home from the ground up.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
31 Mar. 2026
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This could be older lead from repairs and repainting involving sanding down old lead paint, usually not from a fire.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With activity in the Strait of Hormuz grinding to a near halt, United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is predicting a sharp slowdown in global trade.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2026
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What remains is a grinding war with no clear endpoint and no coherent strategy.—
Kazem Kazerounian,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No charges have been filed as of Friday night.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
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In a final response filed last week, Shelton argued that the county replaced what was effectively an outright ban with restrictions that still prevent ultralight pilots from accessing the airport.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hone. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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