as in sharp
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
the sharpened blade of a lawn mower
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Recent Examples of sharpened
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 27 May 2026
Ensuring That Recovery Is For Everyone The Michigan Chronicle and Word In Black sharpened this point.
—Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
That’s why Parsons sharpened its 2026 BFA show Sunday, by making access more exclusive, downsizing from 263 participants last year to 31.
—Ari Stark, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
As usual, the music feels like a church revival crossed with a classic R&B revue, sharpened by the social commentary of his beloved reggae and hip-hop.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 18 May 2026
Throughout the program, graduates sharpened their writing, pitching, producing, networking and more.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 15 May 2026
This time, however, more so than ever, their pencil has noticeably been sharpened by experience.
—Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Divisions have sharpened further during the growing conflict in the Middle East.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
Better brakes and new rack and pinion steering, instead of a crude recirculating ball setup, also sharpened the car’s handling.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 13 May 2026
Verb
The controversy is unfolding in the run-up to France’s 2027 presidential election, in which the far-right Rassemblement National is expected to be a frontrunner — a backdrop that has sharpened anxieties across the cultural sector about concentrated media power.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 27 May 2026
Ensuring That Recovery Is For Everyone The Michigan Chronicle and Word In Black sharpened this point.
—Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
That’s why Parsons sharpened its 2026 BFA show Sunday, by making access more exclusive, downsizing from 263 participants last year to 31.
—Ari Stark, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
As usual, the music feels like a church revival crossed with a classic R&B revue, sharpened by the social commentary of his beloved reggae and hip-hop.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 18 May 2026
Throughout the program, graduates sharpened their writing, pitching, producing, networking and more.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 15 May 2026
This time, however, more so than ever, their pencil has noticeably been sharpened by experience.
—Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Divisions have sharpened further during the growing conflict in the Middle East.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
Better brakes and new rack and pinion steering, instead of a crude recirculating ball setup, also sharpened the car’s handling.
—Howard Walker, Robb Report, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpened
Adjective
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The entrepreneurs best positioned for the years ahead aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or the sharpest marketing.—
Rhett Power,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
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Fishermen say increasing competition has spurred a sharp rise in armed conflict, especially between fisherfolk from the Turkana and Dassanech ethnic groups.—
Tommy Trenchard,
NPR,
31 May 2026
Verb
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On the losing side of Wall Street was Dick’s Sporting Goods, which dropped 6% despite delivering a profit for the latest quarter that edged past expectations.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2026
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After Malukas had led for the entirety of the dramatic final lap Sunday, Felix Rosenqvist edged him to the finish line, passing with just a few feet to go.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
Verb
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Buddhist, recently widowed, and a successful artist, Rose is ditsy and rather eccentric, but is grounded by a 13-year-old step-granddaughter.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
Clemens had two chances to complete the feat but popped up in the seventh inning and then grounded out to second to end the eighth.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
Verb
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No charges have been filed as of Monday as police continue their investigation.—
Dan Snyder,
CBS News,
2 June 2026
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The trademark for the Winkie, which was only filed during the competition, can be found under US Trademark Registration Number 1363286.—
Jonathan Odden,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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The humble insects, which have jagged wings and fuzzy, thick legs, migrate every year from the Sierra Nevada to warmer coastal areas in winter, laying eggs which grow into caterpillars and eventually new butterflies.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
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Seismic images of mid-ocean ridges typically show rough and jagged terrain, formed when lava oozes up into the cold ocean along faults or fissures and hardens suddenly into stone.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sharpened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpened. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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