1
as in sharpens
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rubs
to make smooth by friction
honed the edge of the axe until it was amazingly sharp
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Recent Examples of hones
Both films revolved around Mitchie (Lovato), who hones her vocal talents at the camp alongside the Gray brothers Shane (Joe Jonas), Nate (Nick Jonas), and Jason (Kevin Jonas).
—
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2025
To survive a ruthless winnowing—to go from one of about 16,000 high-school quarterbacks each year to one of the 10 good ones in the NFL to one of the three or so each generation who earn the Hall of Fame’s gold jacket—hones certain traits within them and strips others away.
—Seth Wickersham, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025
Training also hones employability skills and offers guidance for honing college and career paths.
—Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Sep. 2025
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2025
To survive a ruthless winnowing—to go from one of about 16,000 high-school quarterbacks each year to one of the 10 good ones in the NFL to one of the three or so each generation who earn the Hall of Fame’s gold jacket—hones certain traits within them and strips others away.
—Seth Wickersham, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025
Training also hones employability skills and offers guidance for honing college and career paths.
—Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hones
Verb
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That contrast only sharpens China’s advantage, where Beijing offers scale and direction, Europe risks eroding credibility.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Beyond the fun of construction, the set sharpens problem-solving and critical thinking skills while reinforcing STEM concepts in a way that feels hands-on and exciting.—
Emily Glover,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Specifically, Byron’s enthusiasm for Guinness — the beer and the family — rubs him the wrong way.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
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Ray, grateful for the distraction, rubs my Lab behind his ears and tells me how much Michelle loved dogs.—
Ted Katauskas,
Outside,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The White House is halting $18 billion in New York infrastructure funding due to concerns over diversity and inclusion practices and as the first day of a federal shutdown grinds government work to a halt.—
Gregory Korte,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
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This all-in-one machine grinds and brews for maximum freshness, dispensing the perfect dose of caffeine each time.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As the group files safely past the battalion of Canada geese and closer to the Downtown Canal Walk at the southern part of Military Park, smooth jazz emanating from the Indiana State Museum’s entrance replaces the construction crew’s cacophony.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
22 Sep. 2025
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Not to mention the Epstein files nonsense.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hones. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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