as in grinding
to make sharp or sharper
you need to sharpen your penknife's blade frequently in order to be able to whittle properly
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Recent Examples of sharpening
Modern folding saws are effective for larger branches and have replaceable blades, eliminating the need for sharpening.
—
Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Jan. 2026
Mercury fuses with Pluto in your money zone, sharpening budget choices and prompting frank talks about fair compensation.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
So, why is a whetstone the better sharpening option?
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 15 Jan. 2026
Strategics keep sharpening their focus on India as a next frontier for beauty.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 13 Jan. 2026
The event allowed Democrats to outline overlapping priorities — including universal support for expanding Medicaid — while sharpening other differences in their platforms.
—Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Besides cleaning it, sharpening the blades, and draining the gas, don’t overlook your mower’s oil.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2026
There are lots of exercises for sharpening proprioception, but the surfing doctor is partial to bodies of water.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
That means their approach keeps sharpening with real exposure rather than theoretical practice.
—Nia Bowers, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Jan. 2026
Mercury fuses with Pluto in your money zone, sharpening budget choices and prompting frank talks about fair compensation.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
So, why is a whetstone the better sharpening option?
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 15 Jan. 2026
Strategics keep sharpening their focus on India as a next frontier for beauty.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 13 Jan. 2026
The event allowed Democrats to outline overlapping priorities — including universal support for expanding Medicaid — while sharpening other differences in their platforms.
—Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Besides cleaning it, sharpening the blades, and draining the gas, don’t overlook your mower’s oil.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2026
There are lots of exercises for sharpening proprioception, but the surfing doctor is partial to bodies of water.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
That means their approach keeps sharpening with real exposure rather than theoretical practice.
—Nia Bowers, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpening
Verb
-
Many came from grinding poverty and squalor.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
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For Jones, doing his part meant observing, which led to at least four officers jumping on his back, handcuffing him, crushing his legs, and grinding his forehead into the frozen concrete.—
Evan Minsker,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For those looking for something more immersive, the gardens also hold tea workshops that focus on tea blending and fine honing your tea sensory skills.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2026
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Read on to learn why honing a resilience response can protect your heart long-term, and how to do just that.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sharpening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpening. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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