1
as in to sharpen
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
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2
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction
honed the edge of the axe until it was amazingly sharp
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hone
That personalized experience includes course study specifically honed to fit the program and the future of space travel.
—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
Instead, taking to the road or TikTok and YouTube to hone their craft and build fan followings with an eye to global stand-up touring has become the pinnacle of the comedy profession.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2025
Other game modes include a clutch mode where a player’s skills can be honed and tested.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 21 May 2025
Instead, its parent company, Technip Energies, will leverage the expertise of its fellow subsidiary Zimmer Polymer Technologies, which has been honing polyester production for the past seven decades.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025
Instead, taking to the road or TikTok and YouTube to hone their craft and build fan followings with an eye to global stand-up touring has become the pinnacle of the comedy profession.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2025
Other game modes include a clutch mode where a player’s skills can be honed and tested.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 21 May 2025
Instead, its parent company, Technip Energies, will leverage the expertise of its fellow subsidiary Zimmer Polymer Technologies, which has been honing polyester production for the past seven decades.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hone
Verb
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Players slid into second with their spikes high (and sometimes even sharpened).—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
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Still, the global rise of spin dictatorships should sharpen awareness of what is happening in the U.S. Around the world, autocrats have learned to control their citizens by faking democracy.—
Daniel Treisman,
The Conversation,
3 June 2025
Verb
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So in the long run, even somewhere like Oxford won't be rubbing their hands with glee if life is harder for Harvard — because Oxford and Harvard do projects together.—
Willem Marx,
NPR,
5 June 2025
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Privately, Musk rubbed a number of senior officials the wrong way during his time in government, and his complaints about a key legislative goal may further agitate his critics in the administration.—
Miranda Nazzaro,
The Hill,
4 June 2025
Verb
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The formal coupes are polished using specialty techniques to reveal a reflective, opalescent finish.—
Maria Conti,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2025
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Elevated by fluted panels and a duo of discreet storage drawers, its look is polished enough to nimbly complement non-office settings.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Guesses ranged from great whites to sand tigers to makos.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
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The hood's finish is created by layering a base coat of paint that is then sanded down with a Maybach pattern that is printed onto it, adding two coats of clear lacquer to complete the process.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, families across America are grinding five, six, even seven days a week just to stay afloat.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
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While the Bruins took care of some key business in the hiring of new head coach Marco Sturm, the team’s scouting and management staffs have been been grinding through some planning for the future that is just as vital as the next coach.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Neither Blanco nor federal prosecutors have filed motions since the jurors testified, though they are expected to do so in the coming months with arguments about whether Patron should be granted a new trial.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 June 2025
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The Initial Court Challenges The parties then filed competing actions to vacate or confirm the award.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hone. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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