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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Recent Examples of sharpens
Many gig workers also operate across multiple brands and industries, spurring a cross-pollination of ideas that sharpens their work, fuels continuous improvement, and creates a more empathetic, modern approach to customer experience.
—
Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Capital might fuel expansion, but the process also sharpens leadership skills, deepens industry relationships and often reveals operational blind spots.
—Jessica Billingsley, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
Here, the messenger planet sharpens our focus and general attunement, urging us to choose our words and actions carefully.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Sports fans will love how the AI Sports Mode sharpens every detail of the game while boosting the roar of the crowd for a true arena vibe.
—PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2025
Because here’s the thing — when phones are gone, everything sharpens.
—Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 17 Aug. 2025
The National Institute of Health reports that sleep improves memory, sharpens decision-making, and enhances problem-solving skills.
—Maha Abouelenein, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Far from being chastened, Angelica sharpens her tone into a devastating point and unleashes a vicious referendum.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024
Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Capital might fuel expansion, but the process also sharpens leadership skills, deepens industry relationships and often reveals operational blind spots.
—Jessica Billingsley, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
Here, the messenger planet sharpens our focus and general attunement, urging us to choose our words and actions carefully.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Sports fans will love how the AI Sports Mode sharpens every detail of the game while boosting the roar of the crowd for a true arena vibe.
—PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2025
Because here’s the thing — when phones are gone, everything sharpens.
—Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 17 Aug. 2025
The National Institute of Health reports that sleep improves memory, sharpens decision-making, and enhances problem-solving skills.
—Maha Abouelenein, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Far from being chastened, Angelica sharpens her tone into a devastating point and unleashes a vicious referendum.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpens
Verb
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Too often, the buying journey still grinds like an outdated gearbox.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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As the summer season grinds to a near halt, several holdover titles rounded out the top five.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Now, as the defamation case edges closer to a verdict, Relli faces the prospect of walking away empty-handed—or worse, financially responsible for tens of thousands in legal fees.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Cuomo, however, edges him on crime (31 against 26 percent), the most important concern.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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To survive a ruthless winnowing—to go from one of about 16,000 high-school quarterbacks each year to one of the 10 good ones in the NFL to one of the three or so each generation who earn the Hall of Fame’s gold jacket—hones certain traits within them and strips others away.—
Seth Wickersham,
The Atlantic,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sharpens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpens. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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