sharpens

verb

present tense third-person singular of sharpen
as in grinds
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 sharpens Blind, which follows a writer whose loss of sight sharpens her creative imagination, premiered in Sundance and Berlin. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026 But seeing how the Count traveled the same journey from the Borgo Pass to Exeter by sea sharpens the contrast between these characters, and hints at the undead man’s indomitability. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026 That extra size collects far more light, sharpens detail (especially on planets) and gives brighter views of fainter deep sky objects. — Damian Peach, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026 The discovery sharpens that broad history by anchoring a smallpox strain in northern Chile. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 30 July 2026 The Guardian Built From The Same Cloth The institutions that protect our money are nevertheless far from defenseless, since the very capacity for recognizing patterns that empowers the attacker also sharpens the eyes of the watchman. — Dennis-Kenji Kipker, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 The understanding with Mbappe, always lightning quick to make his move, only sharpens the most dangerous connection at the World Cup. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 4 July 2026 Put another way, salt sharpens the tomato-y-ness of a tomato. — Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 Lalka’s contribution sharpens our understanding of where some of that conflict originates. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpens
  1. grinds
  2. whets
  3. edges
  4. hones
Verb
  • That dust grinds at the wheel bearings and works past the seals.
    — Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The Russia and Ukraine conflict grinds into a fifth year; a new Fed chair settles in while tariff policy whipsaws through the courts; tensions with allies and adversaries alike continue to flare.
    — Nigel Morris, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of grinds
Verb
  • Like anticipation for an upcoming summer blockbuster movie, the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll whets the appetite for college football fans ahead of the teams returning to the field.
    — Erick Smith, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Some of the Summertime launch‘s most delicious harvests have already sold out, so don’t think too long or too hard about it before snagging everything that catches your eye… and whets your appetite.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
Definition of whets
Verb
  • Aspen/alder edges with an understory of hazelbrush are prime Michigan locations.
    — Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The movie doesn’t shy away from letting Tony make mistakes—at times, the character edges toward outright villainy—and Banderas animates Chef with a contrasting moral clarity whose force feels almost physical.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of edges
Verb
  • Chance the Rapper, another honoree, hones his influence and charity on young generations in his hometown through his organization Social Works Chicago, which works with mental health providers, the homeless, and public schools.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 22 May 2026
  • But Highsmith hones the drama by putting us in Chester’s head.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Definition of hones

Browse Nearby Words

sharpening
sharpens
sharper
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Cite this Entry

“Sharpens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpens. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sharpens for Spanish Speakers

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