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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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 sharpened

Verb

Specifically, Christie sharpened her attention to detail during her extensive pharmacy training for the Society of Apothecaries’ Assistant Examination in 1917. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026 The experience sharpened his understanding of how culture shapes consumer desires. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026 With polls showing Jackson ahead but within the margin of error, both sides have sharpened their attacks. — Julia Terruso, Time, 26 Oct. 2026 Scallop crudo, a wedge salad piled with jumbo lump crab and sharpened with wasabi dressing, and a lobster roll with saffron coleslaw sit comfortably alongside American classics like a double cheeseburger and fries. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026 Mayberry sharpened her songwriting through years of sessions, seeking a more vivid storytelling approach and a broader vocal palette. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 21 Oct. 2026 Cohan joins the eight-episode series as Catherine ‘Cat’ Keegan, a former homecoming queen whose small-town charm has sharpened into something fiercer thanks to decades of old grudges and regrets. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 Cohan plays Catherine ‘Cat’ Keegan, a former homecoming queen whose small-town charm has sharpened into something fiercer thanks to decades of old grudges and regrets. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 But the fear and exasperation among the lenders whose money fuels this game sharpened noticeably over the past week. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpened

Adjective

Days after winning majorities in the House and Senate, Democrats are setting sharp priorities.

— Pranshu Verma The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
San Diego is 13th in the Western Conference, a sharp decline from its conference-final appearance during its inaugural season.

— Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of sharp

Verb

On Friday, Northwood edged host Liberty 16-15 to reach the quarterfinals.

— Dan Albano, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026
In the team competition, Granada Hills edged Palisades by one stroke, 416-417, to end the Dolphins’ five-year reign, which was one short of the City record set by Granada Hills from 2001-06 and equaled by the Highlanders from 2011-16.

— Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of edged

Adjective

John Homme sings at the jagged, forlorn beginning of the ninth Queens of the Stone Age album.

— Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2026
As with his previous films, Iñárritu tells his story using scenes out of order so that the pieces fall together in a jagged form that heightens the tension.

— Ray Bennett, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of jagged

Verb

The closest competitor to Starship, at least in the Earth-orbit launch market, is Blue Origin’s New Glenn, but that rocket exploded on its Cape Canaveral launchpad during a May 28 hotfire test and remains grounded.

— Ramin Skibba, Scientific American, 4 Nov. 2026
In this Friday, April 26, 2019 file photo, SAS planes are grounded at Oslo Gardermoen airport during pilots strikes, in Oslo, Norway.

— Kirsten Grieshaber, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of ground

Verb

La La filed for divorce from the NBA star back in 2021, citing irreconcilable differences, according to TMZ, which first reported on the settlement Wednesday.

— Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, according to federal court documents in Dallas.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of filed

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sharpen

sharpened

sharpening

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“Sharpened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpened. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of sharpened

adjective

verb

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