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
Like other paddlers, Wiki went through all three training cohorts to hone her paddling skills.
—
Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 21 July 2025
Collaborate with Taiwan’s top fashion industry professionals Work closely with leading local stylists, makeup artists, and art directors, honing both creative and professional collaboration skills.
—Avril Chen, Vogue, 18 July 2025
Rock climbers living in the flatlands of Florida now have a new massive venue to hone their skills as High Point Climbing and Fitness opens its doors.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2025
Here are my observations from honing these skills myself.
—Aditii Handa, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone
Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 21 July 2025
Collaborate with Taiwan’s top fashion industry professionals Work closely with leading local stylists, makeup artists, and art directors, honing both creative and professional collaboration skills.
—Avril Chen, Vogue, 18 July 2025
Rock climbers living in the flatlands of Florida now have a new massive venue to hone their skills as High Point Climbing and Fitness opens its doors.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2025
Here are my observations from honing these skills myself.
—Aditii Handa, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hone
Verb
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This takes many forms, such as advisory boards and customer summits, and experience has taught me that this input can sharpen your product roadmap and positioning, accelerate deals and improve conversions. 5.—
Meghan Keough,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
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This show challenged me, sharpened me, and revealed what l’m made of.—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
23 July 2025
Verb
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Cats can rub against concrete to mark their territory and feel more secure because the scent lingers on the material longer than on smoother surfaces.—
Kelli Bender,
People.com,
23 July 2025
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Again, once the Field School staff restrained the shark, the team of amateurs got to work quickly and efficiently, with the only mishap being a person who rubbed their fingers the wrong way against the shark skin and got an abrasion that drew a bit of blood.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Many Point Loma sailors are spending the short offseason competing with club teams to polish their skills.—
Noah Perkins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Aug. 2025
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Unlike ultra-wide, frumpy, or super skinny styles, Lakshmi’s jeans are comfortable enough for daytime explorations yet polished enough to wear to dinner and cocktails.—
Izzy Baskette,
People.com,
31 July 2025
Verb
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Before cars are painted, workers still run gloved hands over them and sand smooth any tiny imperfections.—
Keith Bradsher,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
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Its secure seal acts like a vault around your phone to keep water and sand out and scratches off your screen.—
Laura Lu,
Parents,
19 May 2025
Verb
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The fact that everybody was there and everyone was grinding, there was that little extra motivation to really get this thing going.—
Vic Tafur,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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This precise semiautomatic machine can grind your beans, push out balanced shots, and froth your milk.—
Scott Gilbertson,
Wired News,
11 July 2025
Verb
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The department store chain, which currently has about 650 stores, was one of the largest retailers to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.—
Mike Snider,
Freep.com,
31 July 2025
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Liens can also be filed as a way to encourage businesses to pay more quickly.—
Audrey Ash,
CNN Money,
31 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hone. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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