1
as in to sharpen
to make sharp or sharper
honed the knife's blade to razor-like sharpness honed his crossword-puzzle skills by reading the dictionary as though it were a thrilling novel
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2
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction
honed the edge of the axe until it was amazingly sharp
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hone
Joining a rich community of artists, the Oscar-winning talent honed his painting and writing skills and wove himself into the fabric of the community.
—
Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
Budding photographers can take advantage of this hike to hone their skills.
—Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025
Her experience working for high-level brands in the fashion industry honed her customer service skills.
—Geri Stengel, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
It is honed on the two pitches adjacent to the stadium — a humble contrast to Bournemouth’s new £40million ($50.5m) training ground at Canford Magna nine miles away, which opens next month.
—Michael Walker, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone
Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
Budding photographers can take advantage of this hike to hone their skills.
—Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025
Her experience working for high-level brands in the fashion industry honed her customer service skills.
—Geri Stengel, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
It is honed on the two pitches adjacent to the stadium — a humble contrast to Bournemouth’s new £40million ($50.5m) training ground at Canford Magna nine miles away, which opens next month.
—Michael Walker, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hone
Verb
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Trump also sharpened his rhetoric toward the E.U., which has for decades been one of the closest U.S. allies.—
Carlo Angerer,
NBC News,
13 Mar. 2025
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Bottom line: Democrats remain in soul-searching mode ahead of 2026, but at least two of the Bay State's more vocal Trump critics are sharpening their messages in the hope that local and national voters will swing back blue.—
Mike Deehan,
Axios,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Thinking fast, the kid rubs his fists in broken glass, instantly upgrading his wimpy, untrained knuckles into deadly weapons.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
8 Mar. 2025
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The seams don't rub, even with a heavy pack on, and the cut is roomy without being too baggy.—
Scott Gilbertson,
WIRED,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Loungewear sets are a common airport outfit, but Markle’s striped button-down shirt and matching flared pants looked comfortable, but also polished enough to wear to work or dinner.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Mar. 2025
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Plus, like all Essie polishes, the creamy formula is vegan, salon-quality, and priced affordably.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Most stars sand down the rough edges for big-paycheck roles like that.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Mar. 2025
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The lyrics on this album take a few spins to absorb, in part because Van Etten doesn’t sand down the sharp corners of her subjects.—
Frank DiGiacomo,
Billboard,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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These mental health conditions can lead to bruxism (teeth grinding), which can affect the tongue.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
16 Mar. 2025
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The state’s most populous city provides a disappointing recent example of why money will never be enough to fix grinding problems.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Weiss, 42, was charged with 14 counts of unauthorized computer access and 10 counts of identity theft after purportedly hacking thousands of accounts to download intimate photos and videos, according to an indictment filed in federal court Thursday.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
21 Mar. 2025
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Attempt to block footage release Hackman’s estate filed a petition last week attempting to block the release of any photos or video footage from inside the home, according to a copy of the legal filing obtained by CNN at the time.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN,
21 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hone. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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