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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of honed
Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Learning to Engage McMillon has an almost professorial air that’s articulate, polite and exudes competence — but his skill set was honed by long years of experience.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026
Leathered and soft-honed finishes will replace ultra-glossy finishes, and natural stone with movement and depth will replace flat, one-dimensional countertop materials.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
The students used actual equipment but honed their skills on the gym’s wood floor.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Both honed their chops playing in Havana in their native Cuba before immigrating to the United States and attracting an international audience.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
Bring these elements home through smooth-finish tiles, honed countertops, and matte finishes.
—Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026
The spa Jumeirah’s signature spa offering, Talise, has been honed to perfection here—set across three floors, with a women’s only section, 13 treatment rooms, a 20-meter indoor pool and a remedy suite that offers an iDome, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and cryotherapy, among other facilities.
—Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2026
Below are key steps to take to build your organization’s blueprint around the norms, types of thinking and skills that veterans have honed during their years of serving in one of the largest global employers in the world.
—Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
Learning to Engage McMillon has an almost professorial air that’s articulate, polite and exudes competence — but his skill set was honed by long years of experience.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026
Leathered and soft-honed finishes will replace ultra-glossy finishes, and natural stone with movement and depth will replace flat, one-dimensional countertop materials.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
The students used actual equipment but honed their skills on the gym’s wood floor.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Both honed their chops playing in Havana in their native Cuba before immigrating to the United States and attracting an international audience.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
Bring these elements home through smooth-finish tiles, honed countertops, and matte finishes.
—Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026
The spa Jumeirah’s signature spa offering, Talise, has been honed to perfection here—set across three floors, with a women’s only section, 13 treatment rooms, a 20-meter indoor pool and a remedy suite that offers an iDome, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and cryotherapy, among other facilities.
—Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2026
Below are key steps to take to build your organization’s blueprint around the norms, types of thinking and skills that veterans have honed during their years of serving in one of the largest global employers in the world.
—Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honed
Verb
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That history has sharpened the board’s focus this time on ensuring a smoother transition and continuity from Iger’s tenure in the top.—
Allie Canal,
NBC news,
3 Feb. 2026
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As excitement has built and focus has sharpened in preparation for the Winter Olympics, biathlete and Minnesota native Luci Anderson has been jarred at times by thoughts of home.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After Landfair climbed into Kelly’s lap and rubbed his head — following the precise instructions Sparkle had given her — Kelly eagerly accepted her innocent request.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
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But this one in particular rubbed him the wrong way.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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At the same time, China has been trading sharp diplomatic warnings with Japan after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would compel a military response from Tokyo, further underscoring how the issue is drawing in multiple regional and global powers.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The blue sky, the contrast of snow and dark winter trees and the sharp air just puts me right.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Rhone Commuter Flyweight Pants, 40 percent off, are lightweight, flattering, and polished enough for flights that double as workdays.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Jan. 2026
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Guests return for its discreet charm, consistently warm staff, and a sense of home that feels polished rather than precious.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The owner and residents of the affordable housing complex across the street from the ICE building have also filed a lawsuit, seeking to restrict federal officers’ use of tear gas because residents have been repeatedly exposed in the past year.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
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Since the Justice Department started to investigate Cherfilus-McCormick in 2024, Markus / Moss worked on her behalf after the government filed a search warrant application in Fort Lauderdale federal court.—
David Lyons,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Honed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honed. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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