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
Naturally, some rookies will likely spend parts of the season honing their skills with Brooklyn’s G League affiliate on Long Island.
—
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 1 July 2025
Melzer’s job is to think about how writing functions across the curriculum so that all students, from prospective scientists to future lawyers, get a chance to hone their prose.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
The annual competition promotes the importance of braille literacy and motivates students to practice and hone their braille skills, Hertz said.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 27 June 2025
Volunteers from West Volusia Audubon Society lead this monthly program series, which includes class instruction as well as in-the-field opportunities to hone skills.
—Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 1 July 2025
Melzer’s job is to think about how writing functions across the curriculum so that all students, from prospective scientists to future lawyers, get a chance to hone their prose.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
The annual competition promotes the importance of braille literacy and motivates students to practice and hone their braille skills, Hertz said.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 27 June 2025
Volunteers from West Volusia Audubon Society lead this monthly program series, which includes class instruction as well as in-the-field opportunities to hone skills.
—Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hone
Verb
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That practical foundation, coupled with an innate creative sensibility, has sharpened her business acumen.—
Sughnen Yongo,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
Thirty years in state government sharpened her instincts.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
12 July 2025
Verb
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While the two were embracing, Hughes gently rubbed Siwa's belly, fueling the pregnancy rumors.—
Kayla Grant,
People.com,
11 July 2025
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That reportedly rubbed him the wrong way and paved the path for his departure from Phoenix this offseason.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Verb
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Define swim lanes for each spokesperson, and then polish the narrative for each.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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Most high school seniors applying to selective colleges this fall don’t need a lot of advice on how to polish their personal essay or list extracurriculars.—
Gerald Bradshaw,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 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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This precise semiautomatic machine can grind your beans, push out balanced shots, and froth your milk.—
Scott Gilbertson,
Wired News,
11 July 2025
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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
Verb
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The lawsuit was filed by the American Association of University Professors and the Middle East Studies Association, which represents hundreds of professors and students across the country.—
Armando Garcia,
ABC News,
7 July 2025
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Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit last month seeking a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to put the project on hold until legal wrangling is resolved.—
Dara Kam,
Sun Sentinel,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hone. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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