as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
using a finely honed butcher knife will make cutting meat easier
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of honed
Zach Przystup, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2026
Montoya further honed his skills for San Diego Surf Soccer, an elite competitive youth club.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The targets are often closely researched and tracked beforehand and the schemes themselves have been honed to an incredibly successful point.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 14 Feb. 2026
These athletes spend their lives focusing on building physical strength through rigorous training and diets that are honed to provide the nutrients necessary to excel at their sport.
—Emily Hemendinger, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2026
In Paris, every self-pampering detail—naturellement—is honed to perfection.
—Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 12 Feb. 2026
Chef Brian Young, who honed his chops at Le Bernardin and The Quilted Giraffe, channels tradition and elegance with dishes like lobster thermidor, chicken cordon bleu, and a gorgeous sablefish cloaked in caviar beurre blanc.
—Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026
Marc honed his craft onstage at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre and studied at the TVI Actors Studio in Los Angeles.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
These international operations depend on bloodlines honed over generations by American breeders, law enforcement and animal welfare officials say.
—Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
Our bodies have been honed over millions of years, stress-tested over millennia in every conceivable way.
—Zach Przystup, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2026
Montoya further honed his skills for San Diego Surf Soccer, an elite competitive youth club.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The targets are often closely researched and tracked beforehand and the schemes themselves have been honed to an incredibly successful point.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 14 Feb. 2026
These athletes spend their lives focusing on building physical strength through rigorous training and diets that are honed to provide the nutrients necessary to excel at their sport.
—Emily Hemendinger, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2026
In Paris, every self-pampering detail—naturellement—is honed to perfection.
—Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 12 Feb. 2026
Chef Brian Young, who honed his chops at Le Bernardin and The Quilted Giraffe, channels tradition and elegance with dishes like lobster thermidor, chicken cordon bleu, and a gorgeous sablefish cloaked in caviar beurre blanc.
—Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Feb. 2026
Marc honed his craft onstage at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre and studied at the TVI Actors Studio in Los Angeles.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
These international operations depend on bloodlines honed over generations by American breeders, law enforcement and animal welfare officials say.
—Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honed
Verb
-
Handling has been sharpened by rigidly mounting the rear subframe and reworking the Bilstein dampers.—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
25 Feb. 2026
-
One end had been sharpened to a vicious point; the other was a forked hammer claw.—
Josh Ireland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That rubbed City fans up the wrong way, especially as many were not too happy with his performances anyway.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Their ice maker expelled large clumps of wet salt, which, when rubbed, dissolved into an oily, foul-smelling substance.—
Nick Bowlin,
The Frontier,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Use clean, sharp pruners to cut a smooth edge right above a living bud, lateral branch, or along the trunk where there is a ragged break.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Coupled with a sharp slowdown in the labor market, a massive voter revolt is gaining momentum heading into this year’s midterm elections.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The fabrics are soft and lightweight, the shapes are polished, and many come in elevated colors and patterns that read high-end.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Feb. 2026
-
This density makes the granite particularly resilient to collisions and allows it to be polished to a finish smooth enough to glide on ice.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The second woman who filed the complaint did not work directly for Callender.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Federal defense attorneys have filed motions to dismiss indictments, citing difficulties accessing their clients in immigration detention centers and, in at least one case, struggling to locate them at all.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Honed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honed. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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