1
as in sharpening
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rubbing
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 honing
Dedicated To Making Gorgeous Things Before launching his eponymous brand Artur spent a decade honing his craft at his family’s leather workshops with his father Oleksandr.
—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Avelar is a part of an extracurricular program run by America SCORES Bay Area, a nonprofit that allows students to learn and play the sport of soccer, as well as honing some of their academic skills through poetry.
—
Sara Donchey,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
In the meantime, the teen appears to be honing her stunt skills.
—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
20 June 2026
But for sure, the talent is out there, honing their craft and building fan bases post by post, participants agreed.
—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
18 June 2026
Growing up watching the Food Network, Castro, 34, learned all the basics about preparing the perfect meal while honing her craft at home.
—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
Google has been honing Adaptive Connectivity for a few generations on the Pixel.
—
Florence Ion,
PC Magazine,
12 June 2026
Tobacco companies spent decades honing marketing strategies, flavor engineering and processing technologies that helped addict consumers to cigarettes.
—
Maria Godoy,
NPR,
9 June 2026
Richard Vogel was 18 years old, honing his skills as a young rider in Germany, when Scott Brash made history by becoming the first rider to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.
—
Danielle Rossingh,
New York Times,
9 June 2026
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Avelar is a part of an extracurricular program run by America SCORES Bay Area, a nonprofit that allows students to learn and play the sport of soccer, as well as honing some of their academic skills through poetry.
—
Sara Donchey,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
In the meantime, the teen appears to be honing her stunt skills.
—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
20 June 2026
But for sure, the talent is out there, honing their craft and building fan bases post by post, participants agreed.
—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
18 June 2026
Growing up watching the Food Network, Castro, 34, learned all the basics about preparing the perfect meal while honing her craft at home.
—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
Google has been honing Adaptive Connectivity for a few generations on the Pixel.
—
Florence Ion,
PC Magazine,
12 June 2026
Tobacco companies spent decades honing marketing strategies, flavor engineering and processing technologies that helped addict consumers to cigarettes.
—
Maria Godoy,
NPR,
9 June 2026
Richard Vogel was 18 years old, honing his skills as a young rider in Germany, when Scott Brash made history by becoming the first rider to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.
—
Danielle Rossingh,
New York Times,
9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honing
Verb
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Companies that act early—by strengthening resilience, investing in capacity, sharpening worker skills, and rethinking supply chains—will be better positioned to capture demand as it shifts.
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The attention to sharpening those skills could be paying off.
Verb
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The bumper was rubbing the tire and a headlight looked to be dragging.
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Working with the fingertip has a sensuosity which is erotic and raw; there is something very direct about this process of drawing, rubbing, scratching and erasing.
Verb
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The hike includes the park’s east side on the Grasslands Trail, which leads to a Kumeyaay grinding rocks site and the scenic Old Mission Dam overlook.
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Those particles may have been grinding in the joint, causing mechanical wear on the cobalt-chromium femoral head that released cobalt into the surrounding tissue and bloodstream.
Verb
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Parker Kitternan was busy at the console of the church's pipe organ, polishing his musical tribute for the weekend.
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The deceptively roomy, buttery-smooth leather style features a convertible crossbody strap, metal feet, interior pockets, and an outfit-polishing silhouette.
Verb
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With ballots set to be printed this week, the issue was appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court on an expedited basis, with both sides filing court papers over the weekend.
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The brain creates reference points, filing new information against existing constructs.
Verb
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Their work included sanding the benches along the Naperville Riverwalk.
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During a walk-through for reporters on Thursday, construction noises — particularly sanding and hammering — could be heard.
Verb
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Use a microfiber cloth to clean, and follow by buffing the surface with a clean, dry cloth to prevent streaks.
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Use an applicator pad (often supplied with the wax) and start buffing with a fresh microfiber towel.
Cite this Entry
“Honing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honing. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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