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
Hijikata is considered one of the country’s most fluid and mature young strikers, having honed her trade as the only girl in an all-boys team until the age of 12.
—
Megan Feringa, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025
Pilots Bob Hines and Raja Chari are among those who practiced managing low-visibility approaches and honing cross-cockpit communication.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Following in their ancestors’ footsteps, a modern family of witches hone their powers to end the lives of evil men.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
After walking away from the semi-protected working environment of Anderson’s film, Hoffman followed the advice of some peers and enrolled in an acting school in New York to hone his craft.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone
Megan Feringa, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025
Pilots Bob Hines and Raja Chari are among those who practiced managing low-visibility approaches and honing cross-cockpit communication.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Following in their ancestors’ footsteps, a modern family of witches hone their powers to end the lives of evil men.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
After walking away from the semi-protected working environment of Anderson’s film, Hoffman followed the advice of some peers and enrolled in an acting school in New York to hone his craft.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hone
Verb
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From building looks piece by piece in the early days, to introducing womenswear, couture, and a cinematic sense of narrative, Keith has sharpened his process to create full worlds rather than individual outfits.—
Karissa Mitchell,
Essence,
3 Sep. 2025
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Credit rating agencies are sharpening their focus on climate vulnerability, raising questions about whether sectors or sovereigns with large protection gaps could face higher borrowing costs.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Dip a paper towel or cloth in the jelly, then rub a thin layer all over the surface.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
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And while it was expected the two sides would part ways this offseason, first-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn rubbed Rodgers the wrong way after an awkward meeting between the two to discuss their future together.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Given their stature, facilities and squad, this team is a rough diamond waiting to be polished.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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Plenty of brands already offer or are transitioning to TPO-free formulas that contain different photoinitiators (a chemical that makes gel polishes cure under a lamp instead of air-drying like regular polish) such as TPO-L, BAPO, or other resin initiators.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The companies that scale beyond pilots don’t try to sand away every rough edge.—
Jason Snyder,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
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Even the DeSantis administration might have some qualms about sanding off crosswalk markings within sight of the club where 49 people died in the early morning hours of June 12, 2016.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Others like Geno Smith had to grind their way back to starting roles after being written off.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
4 Sep. 2025
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Instead, the army became bogged down in a grinding war of attrition, and the West was stunned by Moscow’s poor battlefield performance.—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The update comes more than two months after Phypers filed for divorce from the actress on July 7.—
Stephanie Wenger,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
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For applicants, this begins with ensuring current compliance by filing all required returns, paying any outstanding liabilities, and meeting foreign asset and accounts information reporting obligations.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hone. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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