as in sharp
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
the sharpened blade of a lawn mower
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Recent Examples of sharpened
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Charlie’s prevailing disgust with his fellow-officers, most of whom all but openly take part in a human-trafficking operation, is sharpened when a young migrant from Mexico, named Maria, has her infant stolen while they’re being held in a detention camp.
—Alexander Nazaryan, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
The White House has repeatedly pushed to halt the flow of billions of dollars to California and other states led by Democrats, a strategy that has sharpened partisan tensions and expanded the scope of California’s legal fight against the administration.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
The backlash is sharpened by the money at stake.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
These concerns are sharpened by the shadow of Epstein, whose connections to powerful figures continue to surface.
—Lauryn Overhultz , Ashley Papa , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
This divide sharpened in recent days; parts of the West are seeing late-springlike warmth, with temperatures 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit above average, while parts of the East are set to experience their coldest temperatures so far this season this weekend.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Giannis off Heat table The harpoon might have been sharpened, and there, at least for a brief period, was a whale to chase.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
As excitement has built and focus has sharpened in preparation for the Winter Olympics, biathlete and Minnesota native Luci Anderson has been jarred at times by thoughts of home.
—CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
Duah and Tverskov said the three-and-a-half-week training camp sharpened efforts to cash in on corner kicks and other set pieces.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Charlie’s prevailing disgust with his fellow-officers, most of whom all but openly take part in a human-trafficking operation, is sharpened when a young migrant from Mexico, named Maria, has her infant stolen while they’re being held in a detention camp.
—Alexander Nazaryan, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
The White House has repeatedly pushed to halt the flow of billions of dollars to California and other states led by Democrats, a strategy that has sharpened partisan tensions and expanded the scope of California’s legal fight against the administration.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
The backlash is sharpened by the money at stake.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
These concerns are sharpened by the shadow of Epstein, whose connections to powerful figures continue to surface.
—Lauryn Overhultz , Ashley Papa , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
This divide sharpened in recent days; parts of the West are seeing late-springlike warmth, with temperatures 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit above average, while parts of the East are set to experience their coldest temperatures so far this season this weekend.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Giannis off Heat table The harpoon might have been sharpened, and there, at least for a brief period, was a whale to chase.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
As excitement has built and focus has sharpened in preparation for the Winter Olympics, biathlete and Minnesota native Luci Anderson has been jarred at times by thoughts of home.
—CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpened
Adjective
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That's partly correlation -- healthier people are more likely to work than sicker people -- but staying in the workplace can also help people stay sharp, according to Debra Whitman, chief public policy officer for AARP.—
Paige Winfield Cunningham The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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The tension in a luge sled allows athletes to manipulate it just so, digging in the runners and steering with sharp precision around curves.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Overnight in Asia, stocks edged higher as investors assessed weaker-than-expected Chinese inflation data.—
Hugh Leask,Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
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Disapproval of how Trump has handled border security and immigration edged up by double digits compared to last summer and spring, with 49% strongly disapproving of his actions.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Connecticut should continue to fortify its legal framework so that care decisions remain between patients, families, and medical professionals — not politicians or out-of-state actors — and so that the right to bodily autonomy is grounded as securely as possible in state law.—
Matthew Blinstrubas,
Hartford Courant,
7 Feb. 2026
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Lots of singing has been helping us a lot to keep ourselves grounded.—
Anna Moeslein,
Glamour,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Justice Department filed the affidavit to a Georgia federal court for release to the public on the order of a federal judge, who instructed government lawyers to make redactions to shield the names of nongovernmental witnesses.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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That lawsuit, which was filed in Texas, sued Watson for $1 million in damages.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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These handheld masterpieces may come with jagged edges and some discrepancy in hole size, but the flavor and texture are perfect every time.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
5 Feb. 2026
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Located in Jackson Hole, this serene landscape is home to glistening lakes, jagged terrain, and beautiful moose, mule deer, bison, and elk.—
Giovanna Caravetta,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sharpened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpened. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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