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
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Sep. 2025
All these processes have been honed since then.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
That collective tightness, honed on their summer European run, was the impetus to get the crowd moving, and often surfing, through the venue.
—Daniel Kohn, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2025
Such practice is admittedly time-consuming, but like so many other skills that require hours and hours of repetition to perfect, reading ability must be honed through effort.
—Big Think, 16 Sep. 2025
Because of this dynamic, the skill sets and knowledge honed on campaigns or in legislative offices are in high demand, especially when outcomes are shaped by external forces like legislation, regulation or political pressure.
—Andrew Frank, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
This, in combination with her keen timing and delivery — honed onstage at the Annoyance Theatre and the Second City in Chicago — allows her jokes and physicality to play on multiple levels.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
Translating those sometimes contradictory experiences into something beautiful and engaging is a skill Guerra has honed over his career.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 15 Sep. 2025
The technology has been honed for most types of vehicles First Student operates.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
Lauter’s blocking talents were honed last season when the offense primarily ran through running back Ashton Jeanty.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Sep. 2025
All these processes have been honed since then.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
That collective tightness, honed on their summer European run, was the impetus to get the crowd moving, and often surfing, through the venue.
—Daniel Kohn, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2025
Such practice is admittedly time-consuming, but like so many other skills that require hours and hours of repetition to perfect, reading ability must be honed through effort.
—Big Think, 16 Sep. 2025
Because of this dynamic, the skill sets and knowledge honed on campaigns or in legislative offices are in high demand, especially when outcomes are shaped by external forces like legislation, regulation or political pressure.
—Andrew Frank, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
This, in combination with her keen timing and delivery — honed onstage at the Annoyance Theatre and the Second City in Chicago — allows her jokes and physicality to play on multiple levels.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
Translating those sometimes contradictory experiences into something beautiful and engaging is a skill Guerra has honed over his career.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 15 Sep. 2025
The technology has been honed for most types of vehicles First Student operates.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honed
Verb
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Since signing to Matador, the band has sharpened its sound into a quirky, exhilarated alt-pop, too uncanny to be dance-punk and too lively to be slacker rock.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Queen Latifah sharpened her tailoring with beige slingbacks in New York last month.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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All other produce can be gently rubbed while being rinsed.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
24 Sep. 2025
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The female nurse rubbed the glove over her sides, into the folds, on the back of her neck.—
Laura Vazquez,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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To watch Lipe-Smith’s Caroline cuddle in bed watching TV on her iPad, or bopping around to JoJo Siwa, or pensively finishing a Popsicle while sitting beside her grandmother at a museum, is to have the sheer malevolence of our current administration and its adherents thrown into sharp relief.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
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But Sport mode was always selected soon after, which, besides adding rev-match downshifts and turning off auto stop/start, adds sharp exhaust tones to its deep-bass-induction soundtrack.—
Peter Nelson,
Robb Report,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
All original, never been polished.—
Victoria Gomelsky,
Robb Report,
1 Oct. 2025
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The Lioness Maxi Dress makes a chic wedding guest dress, Anthropologie’s Maeve Drop-waist Maxi looks polished under a peacoat, and the Zesica version makes date-night dressing effortless.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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An immigration detainer was filed in 2017, but he was released before ICE could act.—
Brooke Taylor,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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In documents filed in Davidson County, Tennessee, viewed by PEOPLE, the couple laid bare the terms of their divorce.—
Sean Mandell,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Honed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honed. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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