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
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
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
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
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
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
-
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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Harvest quinoa by hitting the flower stalks against a hard surface or rubbing them between your hands to separate the seeds from the flower parts or chaff.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Apr. 2026
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An employee washed hands for less than 10 seconds at the sushi bar, and the inspector wants to see 10-15 seconds of your hands rubbing each other.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Their experiments confirmed that adding a single squirt of water to coffee beans before grinding can significantly reduce the static electric charge on the resulting grounds.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 Apr. 2026
-
This stock was a disaster from May 2025 through the November lows near $48, losing roughly half its value in a grinding downtrend.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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Either way, regularly polishing your countertops will help keep your kitchen looking well-maintained and refreshed.—
Farima Ferguson,
The Spruce,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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According to the Farm Bureau, the number of farms filing for Chapter 12 bankruptcies jumped from 216 in 2024 to 315 in 2025, the second consecutive year that number has increased.—
The Virginian Pilot And Daily Press Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
Miami Air International The charter-flights company ceased operations in 2020 after filing for bankruptcy.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
2 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
-
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 9 May. 2026.
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