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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
As Alvarado explores repeatedly, Valdez rejected that pathway, instead honing his indigenous roots, and dedicating his life to exalting those who, like him, exist in the in-between.
—
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
The steep slopes and technical tree runs on Grouse Mountain, along with mogul fields and off-piste powder stashes, create an environment where expert skiers can comfortably hone their skills in a high-performance setting.
—Sara Hansen, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
Among the highlights is a fireside living room, a formal dining room, and a family room that wrap around an eat-in kitchen outfitted with custom Poliform cabinetry, honed Italian marble countertops, Miele and Sub-Zero appliances, and a butler’s pantry with an integrated coffee bar.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 21 Jan. 2026
Shared decision-making is informed consent on steroids, honed for the gray areas.
—Eric Boodman, STAT, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hone
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
The steep slopes and technical tree runs on Grouse Mountain, along with mogul fields and off-piste powder stashes, create an environment where expert skiers can comfortably hone their skills in a high-performance setting.
—Sara Hansen, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
Among the highlights is a fireside living room, a formal dining room, and a family room that wrap around an eat-in kitchen outfitted with custom Poliform cabinetry, honed Italian marble countertops, Miele and Sub-Zero appliances, and a butler’s pantry with an integrated coffee bar.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 21 Jan. 2026
Shared decision-making is informed consent on steroids, honed for the gray areas.
—Eric Boodman, STAT, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hone
Verb
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That context sharpens what India is doing.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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And, unlike gooning, or freebasing, reading is the rare instance of an addiction that, as a rule, harms no one and may even sharpen your mind.—
Hermione Hoby,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cole, a Belgian gelding who’s about 12 years old, calmly stood tied to a rope in the barn on the Kuehls’ property as visitors walked up to him and rubbed above his nose.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
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Combined with the swiveling dining table, the setup allows several digital nomads to comfortably clack away on their keyboards at the same time – no banging elbows or rubbing knees.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In another, Kelly’s character polishes the massive rock on a seat cushion, then lies back to admire it.—
Rachel Garrahan,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
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Use jelly polishes atop an opaque base!—
Rebecca Norris,
InStyle,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The city has sanding and salting crews ready to go, Brockman added.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Jan. 2026
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As Thune notes, there’s still sand in the hourglass.—
Al Weaver,
The Hill,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Russia's advance in Ukraine has largely settled into a grinding war of attrition, and analysts say that Russian President Vladimir Putin is in no rush to find a settlement, despite his army's difficulties on the roughly 600-mile front line.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
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The bright green powder is made from finely ground tea leaves, then whisked into hot water.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The attorney who filed the suit didn’t respond to requests for comment.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
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The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will also conduct a legal analysis to determine whether any criminal charges must be filed and if the shooting was justified.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hone. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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