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
His players believe those communication skills honed as a radio host are a big reason behind their success.
—
Bob Pompeani, CBS News, 27 May 2026
From growing up in the circus to working with Richard Pryor as a film student to preserving music history, the director has honed a distinct corner of cinema.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 May 2026
And why not make Lohner a red-zone target with his vertical leap honed from his basketball background?
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 25 May 2026
Starting this spring, the school’s recently opened Dick Wolf Drama Center will house the new USC Institute for Actor-Driven Innovation, where actors can learn how to use AI tools to help hone their craft.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hone
Bob Pompeani, CBS News, 27 May 2026
From growing up in the circus to working with Richard Pryor as a film student to preserving music history, the director has honed a distinct corner of cinema.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 May 2026
And why not make Lohner a red-zone target with his vertical leap honed from his basketball background?
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 25 May 2026
Starting this spring, the school’s recently opened Dick Wolf Drama Center will house the new USC Institute for Actor-Driven Innovation, where actors can learn how to use AI tools to help hone their craft.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hone
Verb
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Nilsson sharpened this approach throughout the ’80s and early ’90s.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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When was your competitive edge last tested and sharpened — evaluated against your peers in today’s fiercely competitive talent war?—
Jim Hebets,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Once dry, rub a small amount of vegetable oil into the interior and exterior of the pan.—
Katherine McLaughlin,
Architectural Digest,
4 June 2026
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The administration’s decision to import large quantities of Argentinian beef has also rubbed many ranchers the wrong way.—
Justin Klawans,
TheWeek,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Original frescoes were restored, marble was polished, and the color scheme was lightened up with a silver-and-blue palette accenting the white and cream walls.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Robb Report,
4 June 2026
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Expect to see even tinier dots and minuscule French tips atop jelly polishes in summery shades like fuchsia and blood orange.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
4 June 2026
Verb
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But even slightly sanded down, their work puts other games to shame.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
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The denim may have never been worn but it is stonewashed, sanded, chemically faded or laser-treated to look like it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Nine crucial years of expansion and solidification of the pernicious institution went by, speeding the nation’s road toward a grinding war.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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Then to tie a bow on the outing, Scott got Pavin Smith to lunge after an outside slider and ground into the final out of the game.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
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In early 2018, the company filed for bankruptcy and was later acquired by China’s Icicle Group, which has since rebranded as ICCF Group.—
Laure Guilbault,
Vogue,
8 June 2026
-
Anthropic, having filed its confidential prospectus already, is not far behind, and OpenAi is in the rearview mirror; analysts started to worry that there might be too much supply of stocks and not enough buyers.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hone. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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