Definition of sharpennext
as in to grind
to make sharp or sharper you need to sharpen your penknife's blade frequently in order to be able to whittle properly

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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 sharpen Avoid mowing with dull blades; sharpen frequently. Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026 Formal encounters of the trio would have sharpened them all. Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026 And there’s nothing like the disorienting effect of standing in darkness in an unfamiliar place to quicken the senses and sharpen the ear. Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026 Chris Ong, Seatrium’s CEO, sees the Iran conflict sharpening what specialists call the energy trilemma, or the trade-off between energy security, affordable supply, and environmental sustainability. Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sharpen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpen
Verb
  • Bodies in motion are intercut with a bespoke gun factory’s grinding gears; human combats are juxtaposed with VR imagery or first-person shooter games.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
  • That willingness to grind, Jassy argued, is what separates the people who move up from those who stall out.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • To hone this look, honor the original architectural details in your own home.
    Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The Miami Hurricanes blitzed him a lot (60 pass-rush snaps), and Scott honed this skill, learning how to disguise and time up blitzes.
    Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • British Museum As excitement builds for the opening of the new Geffen Galleries at LACMA on Sunday (for priority members; May 4 for the general public), one’s appetite may be whetted to visit other museums.
    Arts Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
  • And the game itself only whetted his appetite for more information.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sharpen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpen. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.

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