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
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2
as in rubbing
to make smooth by friction
honed the edge of the axe until it was amazingly sharp
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Recent Examples of honing
Nonetheless, Blake and Carlson stick to the minimalist sound Blake’s been honing for years.
—
Donald Morrison, Pitchfork, 14 Apr. 2026
Researchers will be honing their forecasts as the season approaches, and will release additional outlooks in June, July and August.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
The work can also be physically taxing, and staying ahead requires constantly honing your skills.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
The hands-on, immersive experience assisted in honing space weather forecasting activities, not only for Artemis 2 but also the future.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026
But first, what’s the deal with honing?
—Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
The rocker spent two years honing his talents on the trumpet for Honora, an instrument that fired him up in his youth, a time when Dizzy Gillespie was his hero and his father’s jazz albums were his musical candy.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2026
The first step in honing this mindset is to figure out your starting point, Chopra says.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
Millet has been honing the concept since 2023.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Donald Morrison, Pitchfork, 14 Apr. 2026
Researchers will be honing their forecasts as the season approaches, and will release additional outlooks in June, July and August.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
The work can also be physically taxing, and staying ahead requires constantly honing your skills.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
The hands-on, immersive experience assisted in honing space weather forecasting activities, not only for Artemis 2 but also the future.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026
But first, what’s the deal with honing?
—Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
The rocker spent two years honing his talents on the trumpet for Honora, an instrument that fired him up in his youth, a time when Dizzy Gillespie was his hero and his father’s jazz albums were his musical candy.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2026
The first step in honing this mindset is to figure out your starting point, Chopra says.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
Millet has been honing the concept since 2023.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honing
Verb
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The reframe worked like a set of corrective lenses, sharpening sentimental mush into something with meaning and claws.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The intuitive Moon and energetic Mercury are merging in your sign, sharpening your words and putting courage behind your message.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sara Aparacio, a resident cleaning expert at Homeaglow, equates scrubbing an appliance with an abrasive sponge to rubbing it with very fine sandpaper.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 2026
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People also can catch typhus by breathing in flea dirt or rubbing it into their eyes, the agency said.—
Don Sweeney
April 8,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There were the metal bats, the shorter schedule and a sense that nothing could replace the seasoning that came with years of grinding through professional baseball’s minor leagues.—
David Brandt,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Catcher Brady Murrietta has been like a superhero for Orange Lutheran behind the plate, leading, grinding and delivering.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After 10 to 20 passes, repeat the same process on the ceramic polishing rods, if the sharpener has them.—
Jesse Raub,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The program acts almost like a navigation map for individuals intent on entering the sector, from polishing resumes to grasping industry dynamics.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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According to Ahlquist, the developers’ next step is to meet with the city ahead of filing an application.—
Rose Evans,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The amount beneficiaries receive varies based on several factors, including the number of people filing.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Use a garden hose, leaf blower, or shop vac to get rid of sanding dust.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
-
So, Navon and her husband undertook a full restoration, sanding and staining them a honey-oak hue that warms up the home from the ground up.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These provide enough force for buffing out scratches without further damaging the surface.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
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Anything above 220 is considered fine and works well for smoothing edges and buffing the nail surface to a polished finish.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Honing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honing. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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