as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
using a finely honed butcher knife will make cutting meat easier
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in whetted
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rubbed
to make smooth by friction
honed the edge of the axe until it was amazingly sharp
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of honed
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Chef/owner Brian Baik honed his skills in New York before returning to Los Angeles.
—
Jim Dobson,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
The film was of course directed by a filmmaker who honed his craft and built an audience on a Google/YouTube platform, while influencers themselves are expected to use more AI tools in the coming year.
—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
22 June 2026
Beginning in her early teens, Joyce loved watching Kirk’s debates on Instagram, seeing in them not carefully honed rhetorical tactics but authentic civility.
—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Glass’s coaches taught us in her method, honed through the years from a wealth of psychological theory.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
Your skills really were honed there to try to fix things.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Prior to opening the bakery, Grande learned the basics of baking from her mother, and honed her skills while working for over 20 years in restaurants, catering, private clubs, and food service management.
—
Pamela Brown,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2026
The issue, protesters said, is less about nationalism than about protecting an industry that relies on specialized expertise honed over many years.
—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
Verb
Following his jail release in 1962, the burgeoning musician honed his chops on Toronto's Yonge Street strip, soaking up the R&B influences of the local music scene.
—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Chef/owner Brian Baik honed his skills in New York before returning to Los Angeles.
—
Jim Dobson,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
The film was of course directed by a filmmaker who honed his craft and built an audience on a Google/YouTube platform, while influencers themselves are expected to use more AI tools in the coming year.
—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
22 June 2026
Beginning in her early teens, Joyce loved watching Kirk’s debates on Instagram, seeing in them not carefully honed rhetorical tactics but authentic civility.
—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Glass’s coaches taught us in her method, honed through the years from a wealth of psychological theory.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
Your skills really were honed there to try to fix things.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Prior to opening the bakery, Grande learned the basics of baking from her mother, and honed her skills while working for over 20 years in restaurants, catering, private clubs, and food service management.
—
Pamela Brown,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2026
The issue, protesters said, is less about nationalism than about protecting an industry that relies on specialized expertise honed over many years.
—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honed
Adjective
-
Tourism in Albania has seen a sharp increase in recent years, with people relishing the nation’s vast, undeveloped coastline.
-
Netanyahu, 76, has spent decades mastering political theater, sharp messaging and grand performances.
Verb
-
That gap matters because the science on prevention has sharpened considerably in the past two years.
-
One of the joys of Air, down to the breathy purity of its title, is its contempt for design—an easy target, but one for which Kracht has sharpened his blade.
Verb
-
But did Spilotro go about life as an upstanding model citizen who rubbed elbows with the Vegas elite, while quietly and stealthily protecting the Mafia's financial interests in Vegas casinos?
-
With its Jewish delis, atmospheric dive bars, and underground music scene, the Mile End neighborhood minted the defining Montreal cool of the indie aughts—a place where cardiganed Italian grandmas rubbed shoulders with tattooed creatives.
Verb
-
My picks include travel-friendly outfits that won’t wrinkle in your suitcase, sets that are polished enough to wear to dinner, and easy errand-running duos that take the stress out of getting dressed in the morning—all starting at just $15.
-
The relaxed tank and wide-leg pants feel comfortable enough for a flight, but the silhouette looks polished enough for lunch, sightseeing, or an impromptu dinner reservation.
Verb
-
The bail motion is expected to be filed by the end of the month.
-
Lastly, Salinas had an active warrant against him filed in May for fleeing from police after a hit and run.
Cite this Entry
“Honed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honed. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
