as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
using a finely honed butcher knife will make cutting meat easier
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in whetted
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rubbed
to make smooth by friction
honed the edge of the axe until it was amazingly sharp
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Recent Examples of honed
Joel Feder, The Drive, 2 Apr. 2026
Koehnemann’s emphasis on fundamentals was honed as Sandberg hit ground balls to him in the driveway.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
The process of designing and engineering cars has been finely honed by automakers over the decades, even as computer technology has revolutionized the industry and safety standards and requirements strengthened.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Letourneau honed that narrative approach during his decade-plus as a sportswriter.
—Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
Johannesen added that Americans’ love of cooking, honed during the pandemic, has merged into this moment of at-home entertaining.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Remember that money management is a skill to be honed – no one is born knowing how to do it well.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
His spring 2026 debut struck the perfect balance between heritage and modernity, drawing from the maison’s most iconic codes—tweed, camellias, and classic tailoring—while subtly reframing them through a lens honed during his tenure at Bottega Veneta.
—Laura Jackson, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2026
The kitchen pairs honed Calacatta marble and custom cabinetry with appliances from Wolf, Sub-Zero, and Miele, bringing it up to modern standards without altering its vintage character.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
Pandikuthira mentioned the word Nürburgring, which is where the R35 GT-R was honed and developed when tested outside of Japan.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 2 Apr. 2026
Koehnemann’s emphasis on fundamentals was honed as Sandberg hit ground balls to him in the driveway.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
The process of designing and engineering cars has been finely honed by automakers over the decades, even as computer technology has revolutionized the industry and safety standards and requirements strengthened.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Letourneau honed that narrative approach during his decade-plus as a sportswriter.
—Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
Johannesen added that Americans’ love of cooking, honed during the pandemic, has merged into this moment of at-home entertaining.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Remember that money management is a skill to be honed – no one is born knowing how to do it well.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
His spring 2026 debut struck the perfect balance between heritage and modernity, drawing from the maison’s most iconic codes—tweed, camellias, and classic tailoring—while subtly reframing them through a lens honed during his tenure at Bottega Veneta.
—Laura Jackson, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2026
The kitchen pairs honed Calacatta marble and custom cabinetry with appliances from Wolf, Sub-Zero, and Miele, bringing it up to modern standards without altering its vintage character.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honed
Verb
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The book’s playful interrogation of traditional gender expectations is sharpened with the introduction of 1855 Caleb, a fantasy and a nightmare, a stern, quiet man who Natalie finds both terrifying and alluring.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Woodruff sharpened his work as the innings progressed.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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UConn’s success, coupled with Hurley’s personality, has rubbed more than a few folks the wrong way.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
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After a half-hour of this, Didier emptied out much of the salt and vigorously rubbed the interior of the pan with a kitchen towel.—
Jeffrey Steingarten,
Vogue,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The graph showed a flat line with a single sharp spike in the middle.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Bird replaced Cruz but wasn’t any sharper, walking Otto Lopez on four pitches and then plunking pinch-hitter Griffin Conine to load the bases.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With a range of sizes for plus-sized travelers, these Eytino trousers are comfortable and stylish, but look polished enough for practically any occasion.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Apr. 2026
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Amazon has plenty of spring-ready two-piece options that are comfortable enough for the couch and polished enough for lunch with a friend.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The court case and admissions Solway and her attorney filed a petition to remove her brother as power-of-attorney and trustee of the family trust in December 2023 in Walworth County Civil Court.—
Carol Thompson,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
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Two of the owners have since filed a notice to appeal the case in the state court of appeals.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Honed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honed. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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