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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Recent Examples of hone
Arts and Culture Local architect Earl Young honed his craft constructing unique residential homes in Charlevoix in the 20th century.
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Stacy Conde, Midwest Living, 30 Dec. 2025
Think of honing as maintenance, and sharpening as repair.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
Bristling with interesting ideas, with arresting solos and expert ensemble work, the ESO has honed a beautiful, bountiful sound all its own.
—Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025
But for Marty Supreme, Lopatin meets the larger-than-life film on its level, building the palette he’s honed over the years into a totalizing prism of sound.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hone
Verb
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Different games sharpen different skills—and video games may have an edge over traditional board games by demanding faster, more flexible thinking.—
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But in a city with a dire housing shortage, the gap has sharpened scrutiny of policies that critics say make building in Kansas City more difficult.—
Verb
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One of the brothers claims that Busfield rubbed his genitals and touched his buttocks during the production, per the warrant.—
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Its main job is to rub against the eyelid during a blink to generate a small amount of static electricity.—
Verb
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The Rhone Commuter Flyweight Pants, 40 percent off, are lightweight, flattering, and polished enough for flights that double as workdays.—
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Living Room When used in combination with other ingredients, lemon juice can be used to polish and refresh parts of a living room.—
Verb
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After sanding and wiping down well with a tacky cloth to get rid of grit, use a paint primer to help the paint stick to the wood and prevent additional cracks.—
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Wood floors are durable in that they can be sanded and refinished.—
Verb
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The manufacturing of this dye was a key industry in ancient Phoenician cities, with the precious ink coming from a process of grinding the now almost extinct murex shell.—
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At this Walmart, the price of Maxwell House ground Colombian coffee rose by 46% in 2025 and its breakfast K-Cups by 34%.—
Verb
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Attorneys for the plaintiffs and defendant signed a stipulation of discontinuance in November, according to a court document filed in December and obtained by Deadline.—
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Orange County has filed a court motion to dismiss Cal Fire’s claim that it is owed $32 million to cover the costs associated with fighting the 2024 Airport fire.—
Cite this Entry
“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hone. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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