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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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
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Recent Examples of honing
But in reality, deepfakes are getting better and the threat industry has many years of experience in honing lures to trick people, playing on emotions and overcoming natural suspicions and objections.
—
Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
What Shore was doing during those first days roaming Manhattan with his camera was not just acquiring formal skills but also honing a particular quality of attention that would serve him for the rest of his career.
—Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2025
Sawkins continued honing his craft at the Amaury Guichon Pastry Academy in Las Vegas.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
This budget-friendly Presto knife sharpener features a two-stage sharpening system for grinding knife blades and honing them to a polished and sharp finish.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
Before that, Leblanc held senior roles in design and product development at Isabel Marant, Céline and Sonia Rykiel, and later led womenswear buying at French department store chain Printemps, honing her eye for both creativity and commercial viability.
—Wwd Staff, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
In between is a huge chessboard for honing skills of strategy and guile while catching a tan.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 4 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
Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
What Shore was doing during those first days roaming Manhattan with his camera was not just acquiring formal skills but also honing a particular quality of attention that would serve him for the rest of his career.
—Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2025
Sawkins continued honing his craft at the Amaury Guichon Pastry Academy in Las Vegas.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
This budget-friendly Presto knife sharpener features a two-stage sharpening system for grinding knife blades and honing them to a polished and sharp finish.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
Before that, Leblanc held senior roles in design and product development at Isabel Marant, Céline and Sonia Rykiel, and later led womenswear buying at French department store chain Printemps, honing her eye for both creativity and commercial viability.
—Wwd Staff, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
In between is a huge chessboard for honing skills of strategy and guile while catching a tan.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 4 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honing
Verb
-
This budget-friendly Presto knife sharpener features a two-stage sharpening system for grinding knife blades and honing them to a polished and sharp finish.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
9 Sep. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
But to have everyone there, rubbing elbows and being just as outlandish and quirky as ever, three decades ago just felt off.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Other signs that your cat is content and relaxed with you include kneading, and head rubbing and bunting.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This budget-friendly Presto knife sharpener features a two-stage sharpening system for grinding knife blades and honing them to a polished and sharp finish.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Miley Cyrus shocked viewers by stripping down to a nude bikini top and briefs and grinding, twerking and thrusting on fellow performer Robin Thicke at the 2013 show in one of the raciest performances in MTV history.—
Kate Hogan,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This is why authorities at the National Park Service, which maintains the statue, have repeatedly rejected any notion of polishing away the green covering.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Silver Centerpieces For anyone who's ever gotten stuck polishing silver, there's good news.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Missing these deadlines can result in penalties and interest, even if a taxpayer is otherwise eligible for a refund when filing their return.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Call your card servicer or visit its website for details on filing a claim.—
David McMillin,
CNBC,
15 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 needed, follow that up by buffing with a clean microfiber cloth.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
12 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 18 Sep. 2025.
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