sharpening

present participle of sharpen
as in grinding
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 sharpening Brent crude climbed back above $90 a barrel and gasoline stayed over $4 a gallon all month, deepening inflation pressures and sharpening expectations the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates again. Damian J. Troise, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 The Sun conjoins Mercury in Virgo and your 1st House of Self, sharpening your voice, presence, choices, and personal direction. Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026 Truist focused on growth Truist has been sharpening its strategic focus on growth and performance. Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026 Born April 19, 1946, in Grappenhall, England, Curry trained in drama at the University of Birmingham before sharpening his acting skills in theater. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026 Under the Arthēa name the company is sharpening its focus on making wellness and personal care accessible to more people. Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026 Mercury enters Virgo and your 3rd House of Communication, sharpening texts, emails, errands, sibling dynamics, neighborhood plans, and everyday logistics. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026 Summary Executive leadership is inherently high-pressure, with crises initially sharpening focus and vigilance. Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 The expert becomes the manager of an artificial team, reviewing, redirecting, correcting, and sharpening outputs at speed. Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpening
Verb
  • The process begins by crushing and grinding magnets before digestion and separation of base metals, including iron, manganese, aluminum, nickel, copper, and boron.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • But the wins have, largely, been grinding contests reliant on perfect pitching and nail-biting relief.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Dassin brings real tension and realism to that section of the film, honing some of the gritty procedural elements that would come to be employed by directors like Michael Mann.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Jessica has been honing her skills on the clay from a young age.
    Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 31 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sharpening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpening. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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