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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Recent Examples of honing
This was another knife with a slightly less sharp factory edge that needed several passes on a honing rod.
—
Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026
According to his LinkedIn page, Kelly, originally a fashion designer, began honing his craft at the famed Pacha in Ibiza, Spain.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Linda Jarrett began riding unicycles at the age of 10, and has spent nearly six decades honing her craft, according to Guinness World Records.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Tech-art studio Rhizomatiks and Dentsu design experts, both based in Japan, continued honing the capabilities as underlying technology improved.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 25 Apr. 2026
The team is always honing their skills, and their training continues at least once a month.
—Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
And while creators of such content have access to this ever-evolving technology, tech giants are also honing their internal AI systems to fight the deluge.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Led by John Wist, hands-on course will guide through steps from developing concept and honing storytelling skills to mastering interview techniques, gear setup, audio engineering, and video production.
—Staff Report, Baltimore Sun, 15 Apr. 2026
Nonetheless, Blake and Carlson stick to the minimalist sound Blake’s been honing for years.
—Donald Morrison, Pitchfork, 14 Apr. 2026
Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026
According to his LinkedIn page, Kelly, originally a fashion designer, began honing his craft at the famed Pacha in Ibiza, Spain.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Linda Jarrett began riding unicycles at the age of 10, and has spent nearly six decades honing her craft, according to Guinness World Records.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Tech-art studio Rhizomatiks and Dentsu design experts, both based in Japan, continued honing the capabilities as underlying technology improved.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 25 Apr. 2026
The team is always honing their skills, and their training continues at least once a month.
—Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
And while creators of such content have access to this ever-evolving technology, tech giants are also honing their internal AI systems to fight the deluge.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Led by John Wist, hands-on course will guide through steps from developing concept and honing storytelling skills to mastering interview techniques, gear setup, audio engineering, and video production.
—Staff Report, Baltimore Sun, 15 Apr. 2026
Nonetheless, Blake and Carlson stick to the minimalist sound Blake’s been honing for years.
—Donald Morrison, Pitchfork, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honing
Verb
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The campaigns themselves continued sharpening those contrasts after the debate ended.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
8 May 2026
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According to Plunge, cold-water immersion triggers norepinephrine, a chemical messenger that delivers a burst of energy while sharpening focus.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Pettis took out a paper towel and began rubbing the paints together on the easel.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2026
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Also, avoid rubbing the scent onto your skin, as this degrades the fragrance.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Whereas most of his teammates got their start playing high school and college ball, Natty began by grinding it out in the Northern California mountain town of Lake Tahoe, the Washington Nationals said in a news release.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
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Begin by gently grinding the tip of your dog’s nails, being careful not to grind too much or too quickly and keeping the grinder at a slight angle to avoid the quick.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Verb
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While rivals like the Tacoma and Colorado constantly reinvent themselves, Nissan tends to take the long road by refining, tweaking, and polishing instead of blowing everything up every few years.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 May 2026
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Various owners have taken the reins over the years, but all were committed to preserving the bar’s old-school character rather than polishing, upgrading, or updating it away.—
Skye Sherman,
Southern Living,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The amount beneficiaries receive varies based on several factors, including the number of people filing.—
Adisa Hargett-Robinson,
The Washington Examiner,
10 May 2026
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Anyone filing a 2025 tax return had an opportunity to file a Form 4547, but millions of low-income Americans don’t file tax returns.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Embrace the act of adding to a work table's patina, let your copper sit on display, and don't worry about sanding and re-staining old wood.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
27 Apr. 2026
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The technique still needs sanding, and zero interceptions in 48 career games is concerning, but McCutchin’s combine testing gave his draft case a nice shot of nitrous.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Eyuel Tafesse, room operations manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, finishes by lightly buffing cabinets, desks, and drawers to create a soft sheen, often using a polish with a subtle lemon scent that makes the room feel warmer.—
Colleen Sullivan,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
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Keep one slightly damp microfiber cloth for cleaning and one dry microfiber cloth for buffing.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Honing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honing. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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