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
For the rest of the day, the master teachers work with other classes in their team, helping teachers hone their skills or working directly with students.
—
Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2025
Think of the way Jon M. Chu, Cynthia Erivo, and Ariana Grande honed the message that Wicked was not just a remarkably successful capitalization of Broadway IP but a tribute to radical joy.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
He’s also advocated for honing the party’s message to working class Americans and communicating through more mediums like podcasts, gaming platforms and others.
—Dana Ferguson, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2025
Justyna Magdalena Beyer, 42, and daughter Brielle Beyer, 12, of NoVa, were on a trip to hone Brielle's figure skating skills.
—Anna Spiegel, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hone 
Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2025
Think of the way Jon M. Chu, Cynthia Erivo, and Ariana Grande honed the message that Wicked was not just a remarkably successful capitalization of Broadway IP but a tribute to radical joy.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
He’s also advocated for honing the party’s message to working class Americans and communicating through more mediums like podcasts, gaming platforms and others.
—Dana Ferguson, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2025
Justyna Magdalena Beyer, 42, and daughter Brielle Beyer, 12, of NoVa, were on a trip to hone Brielle's figure skating skills.
—Anna Spiegel, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hone
Verb
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Cleaning, sharpening, and oiling metal tools preps them for their best performance and ease of use.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2025
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For the past 500 years, humans have been slowly sharpening their talent for projecting the populations of the future.—
Dylan Scott,
Vox,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Clean both hands between the fingers and fingertips, then rub the back of your fingers against your palms.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
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Someone in your network may rub you the wrong way today.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In one fell swoop, that verdict rejected decades of Madigan and his loyalists polishing the image of the once-mighty speaker as a politician above reproach, a statesman who never crossed the line, a lawyer with a personal code of conduct that kept him on the straight and narrow.—
Megan Crepeau,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2025
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Jenner’s nails were styled in a minimalist almond shape and polished in a cloudy, pink-nude manicure.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The wood is cut and typically sanded and painted, using the kit’s axles and wheels.—
Karie Angell Luc,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2025
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Nubuck leather is formed from the top of the animal hide which is finely sanded and buffed to produce the softest, velvety leather finish.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Jordan Feed Mill has recently won a certificate from the Ralston Purina Company for the accuracy and uniformity of its custom grinding service.—
Bernice Hoffman,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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The Avs weathered a grinding opening period to pull away for a 2-0 victory over the Flyers at Ball Arena.—
Kyle Newman,
The Denver Post,
2 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Trump administration’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development is stiffing American businesses on hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid bills for work that has already been done, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.—
Ellen Knickmeyer,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2025
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The case brought by Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James was filed after Trump pardoned Bannon of similar federal charges in a last-minute clemency blitz before last leaving office.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
11 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hone. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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