HONES Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

hones

verb

present tense third-person singular of hone

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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as in rubs

to make smooth by friction honed the edge of the axe until it was amazingly sharp

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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 hones Chance the Rapper, another honoree, hones his influence and charity on young generations in his hometown through his organization Social Works Chicago, which works with mental health providers, the homeless, and public schools. — Connor Greene, Time, 22 May 2026 But Highsmith hones the drama by putting us in Chester’s head. — Literary Hub, 1 May 2026 Victor Wembanyama hones his own brand of basketball daily. — James Jackson, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026 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 Interior decorator Guiomar Doval, a fourth-generation Tanjawi of Spanish descent who studied design in Madrid, hones her Afro-Mediterranean style using north Moroccan materials and crafts in restaurants like Chiringuito in Tanja Marina Bay. — Stephanie Rafanelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2023

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hones

Verb

Put the three crises side by side and the picture sharpens further.

— Frank Ahrens, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
The understanding with Mbappe, always lightning quick to make his move, only sharpens the most dangerous connection at the World Cup.

— Thom Harris, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of sharpens

Verb

The nurse rubs circles on her lower back, clucking at the struggle of turning the pregnant body to the side like a lopsided gourd.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 June 2026
Every texture is an independent agent with its own membrane in the mix; percussion rubs and scrapes against your attention, while mutating synth patches burble in the periphery.

— H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 16 June 2026

Definition of rubs

Verb

The Food Processor quickly chops, slices, and shreds a wide array of ingredients for unlimited culinary creations, while the Coffee & Spice Grinder efficiently grinds coffee beans, spices, and herbs for superior flavor and potency.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 June 2026
With a range of 50 to 300 kilometers, the drones, all made in Ukraine, are designed to throttle the Russian army’s logistics – adding a new dimension of strikes to Ukraine’s strategy as the war grinds through its fifth year.

— Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 20 June 2026

Definition of grinds

Verb

Thorn cuts the pieces for his puzzle-style artworks, sands them, paints them, then glues them into a frame.

— Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
Sawdust sprays as Matt Sams meticulously sands the edges of a balcony railing that will soon be affixed to the front of a house.

— Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026

Definition of sands

Verb

This year, revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein files about the notorious pedophile's connections to Gates put even more strain on Buffett's relationship with Microsoft's co-founder.

— Alex Crippen, CNBC, 14 July 2026
When finance leaders think about excise tax, the conversation often starts and ends with the tax team being a cost center that files the returns, meets the deadlines and avoids penalties.

— Ryan Padget, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026