Definition of whetnext
as in to sharpen
to make sharp or sharper whetted the knife with the grindstone

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whet

2 of 2

noun

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 whet
Verb
Organizers have shared a partial list of vendors, to whet the public’s appetite. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026 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 One section tracks the influence of the Alhambra complex, in Granada, where artists trekked to whet their appetites for the exotic. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 13 July 2026 Ahead of the show’s release, FX has planned ice cream trucks themed to each previous season at San Diego Comic-Con to whet fans’ appetite. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for whet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whet
Verb
  • Why coffee on an empty stomach backfires Pouring coffee into an empty stomach speeds absorption and sharpens the eventual fall.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Cohan joins the eight-episode series as Catherine ‘Cat’ Keegan, a former homecoming queen whose small-town charm has sharpened into something fiercer thanks to decades of old grudges and regrets.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Neo1 combines hydraulic force with electric servo control to balance load capacity and positioning accuracy.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
  • According to Formlabs, this improves strength, toughness, heat resistance, and resistance to gradual deformation under sustained loads, while producing a harder, less tacky surface.
    — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • From cherry cola ribs and chicken chili tot pie to beer cheese broccoli orzo soup and Nashville hot chicken and pickle dip, check out Spence's recipes below.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The best part about these tacos were the tater tot cheddar cheese shell they were wrapped in.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Maybe the two can take the nips out on a lovely date to the Wicker 4DX screenings later this month.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Jansen was beaten through the gate by a Hazlewood nip-backer on 35, and Simon Harmer went in the same over to a riser that brushed his glove and shoulder and that Carey had to leap high for.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Goodwill’s petite styling guidance recommends using belts to give oversized clothing more shape.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The 29-year-old out of Northern Colorado has 97 NFL games under his belt, spread over three seasons in Denver and another three in Las Vegas.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The pegs represented individual genes, and the ropes their effects on development.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
  • An unlined road leads across a babbling river to reveal a striking gray building up on a hill, a massive barn raised in the traditional style that uses only wood pegs — no nails — to hold the structure together.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Bitter foods have been used for generations to kick digestion into gear, whether that meant a bitter aperitif before a meal or a sharp green tossed on the plate first.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Vermouth is a lower-proof aperitif flavored with herbs, roots, spices, citrus and other botanicals, typically landing somewhere between 15% and 22% ABV—considerably gentler than the roughly 40% ABV of many familiar spirits.
    — Devin Parr, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • For an eclipse chaser who values that, scenery over duration, or relative quiet, this geographical knife-edge could be appealing.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • His nearest chaser crossed the finish line atop the Calar Alto summit nearly two minutes later.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Whet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whet. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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