as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
I'll need a well-whetted axe to split the wood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 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
-
At the same time, Tesla’s core EV business has faced headwinds in 2025, including large market-cap declines and profitability pressure that have sharpened scrutiny of whether Optimus can deliver commercial returns at scale.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Since primary, Grijalva sharpened progressive tone Since the July 15 primary, Grijalva has only sharpened her progressive tone.—
Laura Gersony,
AZCentral.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who will host COP30, delivered a sharp rebuke.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Sep. 2025
-
But the fitter and sharper Isak becomes, the selection headaches will follow.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whetted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whetted. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share