whetting

Definition of whettingnext
present participle of whet
as in sharpening
to make sharp or sharper whetted the knife with the grindstone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whetting
Verb
  • Modern folding saws are effective for larger branches and have replaceable blades, eliminating the need for sharpening.
    Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Mercury fuses with Pluto in your money zone, sharpening budget choices and prompting frank talks about fair compensation.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Russia currently controls around 20% of Ukrainian land, but over almost four years of grinding war, those territorial gains are thought to have cost Russia over a million casualties.
    Holly Williams, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
  • This week, the optimism of spring has given way to the grinding reality of the sport, all before teams conducted their first workouts.
    Andy McCullough, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whetting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whetting. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on whetting

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!