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 Pruners While some high-end pruners can be sharpened, most inexpensive pruners cannot be. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026 Those fears sharpened in early January as fighting erupted in Aleppo and began spreading eastward. Efrat Lachter , Trey Yingst, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026 Officials’ unwillingness to acknowledge any mistakes has only sharpened residents’ focus on them, functionally bringing to a grinding halt any discourse around how the two groups can work to prevent the next disaster. Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026 Now the Dutch brand is taking these tools to sharpen classic denim silhouettes. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sharpen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpen
Verb
  • At the lakeside, the sound of a saw grinding against stone filled the air.
    Emily Brindley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Daddy’s spent the last three weeks in the Alps, grinding through Olympic mode.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.
    Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Patience was a skill like any other, something to be carefully honed over time.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Jaresko said taking over any part of Ukraine will only whet Putin’s imperialist appetite.
    Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Her lovely 2022 short film, Bus Girl, received a BAFTA nomination, and that seems to have whet her appetite for more filmmaking and less acting.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sharpen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpen. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.

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