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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of honed
Will Lynch, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
In the spoof of gentle, soft, focused crowd pleasers, SNL’s Ashley Padilla channeled the kind of maternal figure she’s honed over two seasons on the show—culturally out of touch, relentlessly cheerful, and covered in statement accessories.
—Erik Adams, The Atlantic, 10 May 2026
Horror master Stephen King honed his craft early in his career by writing short stories while making a meager income as a teacher, industrial laundry worker, and high school janitor.
—René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
The goalkeeper honed his craft, making 40 appearances for the club.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 4 May 2026
The blade was at least ten inches long and double-edged, honed on one side with a wavy scalloped finish, the other a jagged toothing like a lumberjack’s saw.
—Chang-Rae Lee, New Yorker, 3 May 2026
As founder of Celera Genomics in 1998, Venter honed his method of decoding—whole-genome shotgun sequencing—which can rapidly sequence different parts of the genome at the same time and then uses machine learning to reassemble them in the right order.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2026
The tech has been around for decades but has been honed over time to no longer require patients to stay awake as doctors poke around in their brains.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The conductor Charlotte Rowan, who became the group’s artistic director only a few years ago, has not merely upheld its tradition of communal exactitude but honed it to a gleam.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
In both the Knife and solo, the Swedish producer has honed a uniquely playful style.
—Will Lynch, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
In the spoof of gentle, soft, focused crowd pleasers, SNL’s Ashley Padilla channeled the kind of maternal figure she’s honed over two seasons on the show—culturally out of touch, relentlessly cheerful, and covered in statement accessories.
—Erik Adams, The Atlantic, 10 May 2026
Horror master Stephen King honed his craft early in his career by writing short stories while making a meager income as a teacher, industrial laundry worker, and high school janitor.
—René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
The goalkeeper honed his craft, making 40 appearances for the club.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 4 May 2026
The blade was at least ten inches long and double-edged, honed on one side with a wavy scalloped finish, the other a jagged toothing like a lumberjack’s saw.
—Chang-Rae Lee, New Yorker, 3 May 2026
As founder of Celera Genomics in 1998, Venter honed his method of decoding—whole-genome shotgun sequencing—which can rapidly sequence different parts of the genome at the same time and then uses machine learning to reassemble them in the right order.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2026
The tech has been around for decades but has been honed over time to no longer require patients to stay awake as doctors poke around in their brains.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The conductor Charlotte Rowan, who became the group’s artistic director only a few years ago, has not merely upheld its tradition of communal exactitude but honed it to a gleam.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honed
Verb
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Better brakes and new rack and pinion steering, instead of a crude recirculating ball setup, also sharpened the car’s handling.—
Howard Walker,
Robb Report,
13 May 2026
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Those close to Kate say her perspective has sharpened since her recovery from cancer, with aides describing a new intensity and focus around her early years mission.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The man kissed and touched his neck and rubbed his genitals against Gilboa-Dalal.—
Matt Bradley,
NBC news,
14 May 2026
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At one point in the video, Bravo affectionately rubbed Barone’s back as the pair stood close together chatting.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Double-bass glissandos hint at hands grubbing in the earth, while abrupt moments of concerted action—notably, an accordion wheezing out an F-sharp-minor chord—suggest flickering signals and transmissions.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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The summit will take place amid a sharp sell-off in global bond markets.—
Hugh Leask,Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
Verb
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From wrinkle-resistant dresses to lightweight two-piece sets, these pieces are comfortable for long flights but polished enough to wear straight to your destination without requiring a major outfit change.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2026
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Lightweight and breathable, linen is perfect for hot days at the park or beach, but this pair is polished enough for weekend brunch or a backyard cookout.—
Jacquelyn McGilvray,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The Placer County District Attorney’s Office has formally filed a charge of accessory against Lawhead-Steele.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
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That argument is now central to a lawsuit filed by the Save City Hall Coalition, which claims the city failed to properly maintain the building as required by law.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Honed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honed. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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