Synonyms of sharpen

sharpen

verb

ˈshär-pən 

as in to grind

to make sharp or sharper

you need to sharpen your penknife's blade frequently in order to be able to whittle properly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grind
• hone
• whet
• stone
• edge
• file
• strop

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dull
• blunt
• polish
• round
• smooth
• gloss
• burnish
• buff

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sharpen

His partner, six-time DWTS competitor Britt Stewart, speaks to him quietly, offering gentle direction and making tiny posture adjustments that instantly sharpen his moves. — Lily Moayeri, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026

Past a certain point, more preparation buries the message instead of sharpening it. — Lynn Smith, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Israel’s recognition has sharpened that dispute, turning Somaliland’s push for wider recognition into a more consequential challenge to Somalia’s territorial claims. — Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026

And their pitching infrastructure, which originated under current New York Mets president David Stearns and was sharpened under senior vice president and general manager Matt Arnold, continues to be a model for the sport. — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026