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 sharpen
For older students, sport-specific training programs are available in football, basketball, soccer, flag football, water polo, and field hockey, allowing athletes to sharpen their skills and prepare for upcoming seasons.
—
Cullen Gibson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
Disagreements may sharpen after the war, especially over the distribution of political and economic power among different factions.
—Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 9 May 2026
Pratt launched his campaign in January on the anniversary of last year’s devastating fires, using the occasion to sharpen his criticism of Bass’s leadership.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
And, the canopy of the forest will be cleaned up to sharpen the heart shape to increase its visibility from airplanes flying overhead.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sharpen
Cullen Gibson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
Disagreements may sharpen after the war, especially over the distribution of political and economic power among different factions.
—Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 9 May 2026
Pratt launched his campaign in January on the anniversary of last year’s devastating fires, using the occasion to sharpen his criticism of Bass’s leadership.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
And, the canopy of the forest will be cleaned up to sharpen the heart shape to increase its visibility from airplanes flying overhead.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sharpen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpen
Verb
-
Whereas most of his teammates got their start playing high school and college ball, Natty began by grinding it out in the Northern California mountain town of Lake Tahoe, the Washington Nationals said in a news release.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
-
But public health experts say this isn’t like the early days of COVID, when cruise ships were ground zero for outbreaks and hospitals were overwhelmed with sick patients doctors weren’t sure how to treat.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
In both the Knife and solo, the Swedish producer has honed a uniquely playful style.—
Will Lynch,
Pitchfork,
11 May 2026
-
In the spoof of gentle, soft, focused crowd pleasers, SNL’s Ashley Padilla channeled the kind of maternal figure she’s honed over two seasons on the show—culturally out of touch, relentlessly cheerful, and covered in statement accessories.—
Erik Adams,
The Atlantic,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The real difficulty is knowing where to begin, but our experts have selected a couple of favorites to whet your appetite.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
2 May 2026
-
But the slightly slanted exterior architecture is just a way to whet your architectural appetite.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sharpen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpen. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
