honing

verb

present participle of hone
1
as in sharpening
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rubbing
to make smooth by friction honed the edge of the axe until it was amazingly sharp

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 honing Participants gain real-world experience in agriculture, hospitality, customer service and food preparation — all while honing their ability to communicate in English with customers and coworkers. — Madeleine Kashkooli, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2026 Dedicated To Making Gorgeous Things Before launching his eponymous brand Artur spent a decade honing his craft at his family’s leather workshops with his father Oleksandr. — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Avelar is a part of an extracurricular program run by America SCORES Bay Area, a nonprofit that allows students to learn and play the sport of soccer, as well as honing some of their academic skills through poetry. — Sara Donchey, CBS News, 25 June 2026 In the meantime, the teen appears to be honing her stunt skills. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 20 June 2026 But for sure, the talent is out there, honing their craft and building fan bases post by post, participants agreed. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 18 June 2026 Growing up watching the Food Network, Castro, 34, learned all the basics about preparing the perfect meal while honing her craft at home. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026 Google has been honing Adaptive Connectivity for a few generations on the Pixel. — Florence Ion, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026 Tobacco companies spent decades honing marketing strategies, flavor engineering and processing technologies that helped addict consumers to cigarettes. — Maria Godoy, NPR, 9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honing
  1. sharpening
  2. rubbing
  3. grinding
  4. polishing
  5. filing
  6. sanding
  7. buffing
Verb
  • Our editorial focus is sharpening around Black women as travelers, entrepreneurs, cultural architects, and community builders.
    — Daphne Bryson Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
  • Europe’s strategic periphery is not only integral to European security but is actively deepening transatlantic tensions and sharpening intra-European divisions.
    — Galip Dalay, Time, 7 July 2026
Definition of sharpening
Verb
  • But the comfort extends beyond the insole, as the soft fabric straps help prevent rubbing while also lending the sandals a more elevated look.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2026
  • Continue rubbing until the friction lifts the residue from the fabric.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 2 July 2026
Definition of rubbing
Verb
  • The hike includes the park’s east side on the Grasslands Trail, which leads to a Kumeyaay grinding rocks site and the scenic Old Mission Dam overlook.
    — Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2026
  • Those particles may have been grinding in the joint, causing mechanical wear on the cobalt-chromium femoral head that released cobalt into the surrounding tissue and bloodstream.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026
Definition of grinding
Verb
  • The investment of time and money put into excavating and polishing a skeleton such as Gus would not be possible, according to Hatton, without the prospect of a high-value sale.
    — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 13 July 2026
  • Rather than using a standard stonewash, TacticalGeek says the blade is hand-finished with sanding and polishing steps that refine the surface from coarse to fine, while the groove area uses EDM machining for extra texture and visual depth.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 July 2026
Definition of polishing
Verb
  • Those duties include protecting estate assets, notifying creditors, maintaining financial records and filing an inventory of the estate with the court.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026
  • On Monday, Mexico began filing complaints to US state and federal prosecutors to request criminal investigations, and sent cease-and-desist letters to private companies that manage US detention centers where Mexican immigrants have died.
    — Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Definition of filing
Verb
  • Roughly a month before Kirk’s killing, Twiggs said Robinson asked for a Dremel, a tool used for sanding or grinding, to engrave bullets for an upcoming family hunting trip.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Rather than using a standard stonewash, TacticalGeek says the blade is hand-finished with sanding and polishing steps that refine the surface from coarse to fine, while the groove area uses EDM machining for extra texture and visual depth.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 July 2026
Definition of sanding
Verb
  • Finally, to ensure the doors are working smoothly, Sibley suggests applying high-quality car wax to the aluminum, buffing off the wax with a microfiber towel, and then finishing with a light coat of WD40 or Silicone spray on the rollers.
    — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 6 July 2026
  • Use an applicator pad (often supplied with the wax) and start buffing with a fresh microfiber towel.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
Definition of buffing

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honeys
honing
honing in (on)
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Cite this Entry

“Honing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honing. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of honing for Spanish Speakers

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