honed 1 of 2

honed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of hone
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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of honed
Verb
Your intuition, honed by experience and mindful observation, is a powerful, often untapped resource. Jay Patel, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 Her films have won film festival awards internationally, and she’s honed both leadership and collaborative spirit in the Orchard Project Episodic Lab, the Outfest Screenwriting Lab, IFP, and the Austin Film Festival. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025 The difference comes down to evolution again, which has honed our ability to see, hear, touch, smell and taste over millions of years. Bernard Marr, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025 Everything is practised and honed and practised some more. George Caulkin, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025 Duke University’s men’s basketball success over the years—the national championships, the Final Four appearances, all the NBA players who’ve honed their craft down in Durham—has created a blue-chip brand. Sean Gregory, TIME, 11 Mar. 2025 Their problem-solving abilities, honed through years of navigating challenges, should be highly valued. Alex Shubat, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025 Rothwell honed her sense of humor growing up as a military brat. Phoebe Reilly, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2025 The Rodriguez family has honed their technique since 1970, drawing diners from downtown and the surrounding neighborhood for tacos, gooey yellow cheese enchiladas, and loaded combo plates. Edmund Tijerina, Bon Appétit, 27 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honed
sharp
Adjective
  • His equaliser against Leganes in March was a perfect example, with Bellingham sharpest to react when a shot cannoned off the crossbar.
    Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Stocks sold off, pressured by a sharp spike higher in Treasury yields as traders grew worried that a new U.S. budget bill would put even more stress on the country’s already large deficit.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 21 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Honed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honed. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

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