sharpened 1 of 2

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

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 sharpened
Verb
His agility had been sharpened, it was said, by the ballet lessons imposed by his coach at Lucchese, Ernő Erbstein—like Weisz, one of the many Hungarian Jews who shaped Italian football between the early 1920s and the imposition of the Nuremberg Laws in 1938. Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025 Elliott said that since the office has sharpened its tone, donations have poured in from millions of supporters. Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025 My human thoughts dimmed, my animal senses sharpened. AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025 The stalks are drenched in a garlic-and-anchovy vinaigrette sharpened with vinegar and mellowed with extra-virgin olive oil. Katie Parla, Saveur, 30 Oct. 2025 Louvet also sharpened his focus further during the pandemic. Evan Clark, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025 Each project has sharpened her skills and given her more confidence to experiment. Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025 With apologies to Ibsen’s ghost, DaCosta’s tweaks have sharpened its rage. Amy Nicholson, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025 These bouts of illness forced him into hours of quiet isolation but also sharpened his resolve and planted a deep seed of empathy. Liz McNeil, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpened
Adjective
  • In Hyderabad, the jump was even sharper, rising from 8 leadership roles in 2024 to 42 year to date.
    Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The Southeast could also briefly experience blustery winds and a sharp cold snap, with frost or even a hard freeze reaching inland areas as far south as Georgia and the Carolinas by Tuesday morning.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Photos show the Maratus australis spider, which has an intricate pattern of blue and brown blotches edged with bright teal and red-orange stripes.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025
  • After the Loons and Sounders played to a scoreless draw in Game 1 of a MLS Cup Playoffs first-round series on Monday, Minnesota edged Seattle 3-2 in penalty kicks.
    Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • All were well above the overall 3% of domestic flights nationwide that had been grounded, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
    Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Her bond with Simone Biles has been well documented, but Chiles lights up when talking about other unexpected connections that also keep her grounded.
    Essence, Essence, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • On the day of the crash, the FBI collected pictures of the car’s exterior, paint samples and other evidence, according to an affidavit filed by the Justice Department.
    Omar Jimenez, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The Supreme Court also previously denied an appeal filed by Davis in 2020.
    Jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Rose now realizes the smeared, dark, jagged edges are an abstract human.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
  • All the shadows and jagged angles evoke German Expressionism, distorting Ronnie’s confrontation into something both surreal and terrifyingly recognizable.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sharpened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpened. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

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