SHARPENED Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

sharpened 1 of 2

adjective

as in sharp

having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something the sharpened blade of a lawn mower

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sharpened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of sharpen

as in edged

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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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 sharpened

Verb

Under his leadership, the company has sharpened its identity, modernized its direct-to-consumer engine, and elevated its heritage brands in both cultural influence and commercial performance. — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 The interests of the United States and its partners still run together, and that logic has sharpened as China’s power and the alignment of its fellow revisionists have grown. — Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Her boredom was sharpened by the discovery that most of her initial assumptions were wrong. — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 The easiest way to go about tightlining is to start with a soft pencil eyeliner that is sharpened enough not to risk scratching you, but gel or liquid eyeliner also works. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2026 This summer’s heat has further sharpened that priority, and also brought home the complexity of managing it. — Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026 Dylan says the backing has sharpened rather than altered the band’s original ambitions. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026 The perfume opens with the tartness of fig sharpened by a sprinkle of black pepper. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026 Room for Disagreement Hours before Rogers spoke, El-Sayed sharpened his attacks on the Republican during an interview on the sidelines of an event in Kalamazoo, Mich. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpened

Adjective

To be fair, like the other QBs, Allen is adjusting to a new scheme; none of the three delivered particularly sharp days.

— Charlotte Carroll, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Meanwhile, Lowry, 61, has kept his mental health sharp through his unwavering faith and consistent workouts.

— Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of sharp

Verb

Palace squeezed through 1-0 on aggregate against Norwegian side Fredrikstad and Chelsea edged past Swiss team Servette 3-2 on aggregate at the same stage of their respective triumphs in the competition.

— Andy Naylor, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Iran is pushing back against a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and oil prices edged modestly higher in Sunday night trading, signaling that the recent relief may not last.

— Miami Herald Staff Report, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of edged

Adjective

The man’s skull had broken in 61 separate places, and another 60 jagged bits of bone were distributed across his ribs.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 17 Aug. 2026
Arctic dreams Russian President Vladimir Putin has long envisioned the 3,500-mile route along Russia’s jagged Arctic coastline becoming a major artery for trade – and a driver of investment in Russian ports and oil and gas fields.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of jagged

Verb

Here, the designer grounded the tonal palette with warm fall florals, a cream table runner, and cozy candlelight.

— Maria Sabella, Architectural Digest, 20 Aug. 2026
With his team trailing in the bottom of the 10th inning, Contreras grounded out to third and was once again booed after jogging down the line.

— Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of ground

Verb

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday by Hyde Lane, the corporate entity for Demon Hunter, against Netflix, Netflix Studios and concert promoter AEG Presents.

— Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Denver has 160 lawyers The two lawsuits were filed by Jessica Calderon, a former Denver city employee, and Everett Martinez, a current Denver city employee, who separately allege wrongful treatment and retaliation by the city.

— Brian Maass, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of filed

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sharpen

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“Sharpened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpened. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of sharpened

adjective

verb

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