honing

verb

present participle of hone
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

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 The group’s fourth album Welcome to my Blue Sky was released in the spring of 2025, one which finds the group further honing their melodic, hooky songwriting. — Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Ukrainian drone commanders are honing their targeting of Russian refineries and leaving swaths of Crimea with no fuel or power, while Russia ramps up attacks on Ukraine’s gas stations. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 30 July 2026 The program, taking place online over the next three days, gives a diverse group of trans artists an opportunity to meet with mentors in their field with the hope of honing their voices and developing future projects. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 27 July 2026 Inspired by legends like Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson, Clint Black spent years honing his craft in Texas clubs and honky-tonks before breaking through with his landmark 1989 album, Killin' Time. — Staff Author, Southern Living, 14 July 2026 Participants gain real-world experience in agriculture, hospitality, customer service and food preparation — all while honing their ability to communicate in English with customers and coworkers. — Madeleine Kashkooli, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2026 Avelar is a part of an extracurricular program run by America SCORES Bay Area, a nonprofit that allows students to learn and play the sport of soccer, as well as honing some of their academic skills through poetry. — Sara Donchey, CBS News, 25 June 2026 In the meantime, the teen appears to be honing her stunt skills. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 20 June 2026 But for sure, the talent is out there, honing their craft and building fan bases post by post, participants agreed. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honing
  1. sharpening
  2. rubbing
  3. grinding
  4. polishing
  5. filing
  6. sanding
  7. buffing
Verb
  • The camp helps students build their endurance, while also sharpening their skills.
    — Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 29 July 2026
  • Two sequels expanded the world, sharpening the original’s themes and cementing the series as one of Disney’s most durable modern properties.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 25 July 2026
Definition of sharpening
Verb
  • Coat the exterior of the pork with 2 teaspoons salt and 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice, rubbing it into the meat.
    — Kate Williams, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Avoid rubbing, as this can push the stain deeper into the material.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of rubbing
Verb
  • Pay attention to unusual rattling, buzzing, grinding or squealing sounds.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Eversource spent the better part of the spring and early summer in a wide, sideways channel, grinding between roughly $66 and $72 while the 200-day continued its long climb higher.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 30 July 2026
Definition of grinding
Verb
  • For deeper etching, a polishing compound and pad may restore the finish.
    — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 25 July 2026
  • Not deliberately misleading them—more like polishing things up.
    — Dennis Kozak, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of polishing
Verb
  • Investigators presented the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office earlier Tuesday for filing consideration.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • All four of her grandparents were born and raised in Italy; in 2018, the then 62-year-old former magazine editor moved to Perugia, in the central Umbria region, on a temporary visa at the same time as filing a lawsuit for citizenship.
    — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of filing
Verb
  • The rooms All Volcanoes lodges are hand-built and use no machinery (apart from sanding) by their team of builders, carpenters, welders, and fundi/artisans, from the papyrus roof to the bedside lamps.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 July 2026
  • Prep the Wood Prep the wood for stain by stripping and sanding any existing paint, coating, or sealant that could hinder the stain’s penetration.
    — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2026
Definition of sanding
Verb
  • Most people use the miracle sponge for buffing out wall or floor scuffs, but Macqueen’s recommendation is an eye-opener.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026
  • Finally, to ensure the doors are working smoothly, Sibley suggests applying high-quality car wax to the aluminum, buffing off the wax with a microfiber towel, and then finishing with a light coat of WD40 or Silicone spray on the rollers.
    — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 6 July 2026
Definition of buffing

Browse Nearby Words

honeys
honing
honing in (on)
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Cite this Entry

“Honing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honing. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of honing for Spanish Speakers

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