as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
I'll need a well-whetted axe to split the wood
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Recent Examples of whetted
Lauren Frayer, NPR, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
Exposure to the outside world, through her father's work, must have whetted MacLeod's appetite for travel, Crichton says.
—Lauren Frayer, NPR, 14 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whetted
Verb
-
This uncomfortable truth sharpened recently when a friend shared her pet peeve about cell phones on the table when dining out with companions.—
Maggie Hennessy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Since the Spring, campaign promises have sharpened into policy proposals, new agency leaders have begun implementing sweeping changes, and global health developments are reshaping the definitions of patient access and care.—
The Hill,
The Hill,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
His positioning and reading of the game remain sharp, his footwork is clean, and his reactions are quick.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
From the 1960s through the 2000s, no one skewered a crowd with sharper affection.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whetted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whetted. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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