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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rubbing
to make smooth by friction
honed the edge of the axe until it was amazingly sharp
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
In between is a huge chessboard for honing skills of strategy and guile while catching a tan.
—
Mark David, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2025
This kind of agility sets apart those with merely a job from those who are highly valued for their calm composure, which comes from continually honing their skills and level of education.
—Jeanne M. Stafford, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Pilots Bob Hines and Raja Chari are among those who practiced managing low-visibility approaches and honing cross-cockpit communication.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Lines snaked around every outside court, contrasting sharply with the ones only in use for practice, sparsely and quietly populated with players honing their skills for the bigger stages.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Historically, journalism was treated as a trade with reporters honing their skills on the job.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
That spark led him to take on several musicals over the next few years, honing his voice and stage presence.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Implementing these tactical adjustments and honing precision will take time, and this likely won’t be a one-year process.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
There are a few movement-honing solo mini-games to round things out, but overall, this is a game that will live or die by the size and quality of its online competition.
—Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2025
Mark David, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2025
This kind of agility sets apart those with merely a job from those who are highly valued for their calm composure, which comes from continually honing their skills and level of education.
—Jeanne M. Stafford, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Pilots Bob Hines and Raja Chari are among those who practiced managing low-visibility approaches and honing cross-cockpit communication.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Lines snaked around every outside court, contrasting sharply with the ones only in use for practice, sparsely and quietly populated with players honing their skills for the bigger stages.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Historically, journalism was treated as a trade with reporters honing their skills on the job.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
That spark led him to take on several musicals over the next few years, honing his voice and stage presence.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Implementing these tactical adjustments and honing precision will take time, and this likely won’t be a one-year process.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
There are a few movement-honing solo mini-games to round things out, but overall, this is a game that will live or die by the size and quality of its online competition.
—Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honing
Verb
-
Credit rating agencies are sharpening their focus on climate vulnerability, raising questions about whether sectors or sovereigns with large protection gaps could face higher borrowing costs.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
On September 2nd, Mercury re-enters its home turf of Virgo, sharpening our mental focus and communication skills.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Work it into the fabric by massaging it with the pads of your fingers or by rubbing the fabric against itself.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Sep. 2025
-
These trees are always vulnerable to the male deer, known as bucks, rubbing their antlers on the trunks of the trees.—
Chris McKeown,
The Enquirer,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Instead, the army became bogged down in a grinding war of attrition, and the West was stunned by Moscow’s poor battlefield performance.—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Although Moscow's ground forces are being chewed up in the grinding war in Ukraine's east, Russia has wound up its defense industry to backfill its constant equipment losses and regular strikes across Ukraine.—
Ellie Cook — reporting from Prague, Czech Republic,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Silver Centerpieces For anyone who's ever gotten stuck polishing silver, there's good news.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
3 Sep. 2025
-
When growth takes off, there's often a temptation to start polishing everything.—
Mike Vietri,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
For applicants, this begins with ensuring current compliance by filing all required returns, paying any outstanding liabilities, and meeting foreign asset and accounts information reporting obligations.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Peter Homer, who represents Weatherington and White said Dumas was ousted from the board during a July 22 meeting and said Dumas has a history of filing lawsuits against former employers.—
Raisa Habersham,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Even the DeSantis administration might have some qualms about sanding off crosswalk markings within sight of the club where 49 people died in the early morning hours of June 12, 2016.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
-
The acid can stain or discolor the surface, possibly requiring sanding to remove.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
If the copper is heavily tarnished, let the toothpaste's active ingredients work on the patina for ten minutes or so before buffing.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Instead, Bungie rolled out a TWAB last week that was nerfing player progression instead of buffing it.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Honing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honing. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share