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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of hone
Recognising these patterns equips you to address them systematically, honing your interview technique and confidence.
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Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
By the fall of 2018, Stelly had honed his skills as a turntable specialist, solidifying his standing as the go-to expert for turntable setup and analog audio solutions.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 7 Jan. 2025
Glaser, by contrast, was announced as host back in August and had been working on material ever since—a process that entailed testing jokes honed with a team of writers in front of dozens of live audiences.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 6 Jan. 2025
Goldberg, a political force (Courtesy of Jackie Goldberg) Goldberg honed her political skills starting as a teenager, learning from civil rights and women’s rights protest leaders.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hone 
Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
By the fall of 2018, Stelly had honed his skills as a turntable specialist, solidifying his standing as the go-to expert for turntable setup and analog audio solutions.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 7 Jan. 2025
Glaser, by contrast, was announced as host back in August and had been working on material ever since—a process that entailed testing jokes honed with a team of writers in front of dozens of live audiences.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 6 Jan. 2025
Goldberg, a political force (Courtesy of Jackie Goldberg) Goldberg honed her political skills starting as a teenager, learning from civil rights and women’s rights protest leaders.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hone
Verb
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The war room relaunch is the latest example of the Democratic Party trying to sharpen its online presence — particularly on alternative media platforms — after the election revealed that Trump's media strategy broke through.Erin Doherty, Axios, 13 Jan. 2025
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Organizations need to invest in AI training programs and empower and reward employees for sharpening their skills.Gary Drenik, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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For protection, Hu recommends wearing wraparound glasses or goggles when outdoors and avoiding touching or rubbing your eyes.Jackie Snow, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
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The Irish were also motivated to win Thursday by some pregame comments made by Penn State coach James Franklin, who apparently rubbed Freeman the wrong way during the coaches’ pregame press conference.Manny Navarro, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Instead, Cardozo recommends placing a tea towel in the sink, washing the crystal in lukewarm water with a mild detergent, and polishing it with a lint-free towel.Heather Bien, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2025
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Stepping out onto cold Turkish marble, polished by centuries of footsteps, feels like walking into the pages of mythology.Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Some of Cotton Incorporated’s fabric developments include a 98 percent cotton and 2 percent elastane denim pant that was sanded, and then sprayed with an acrylic coating, and then enzyme washed to give it the look of worn leather.Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 9 Jan. 2025
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There are still some rough edges to sand down in Bakayoko’s game, but at his age there is plenty of potential and the opportunity to nurture the Belgium international over a long period.Mark Carey, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The duo’s first album, Good Years, arrives Jan. 31, with shades of Montgomery Gentry and Brooks & Dunn influencing its grinding, upbeat sound.Tom Roland, Billboard, 16 Jan. 2025
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Teen LinkedIn: Children under the age of seventeen can apply for jobs, expand their professional network, and get a head start at grinding their teeth at night.JiJi Lee, The New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The petition was filed with the Department of Health in November, and the agency referred it to an administrative law judge on Monday.Dara Kam, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2025
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The reports were filed in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, when Hamas, designated a terror organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union, killed nearly 1,200 people and took roughly 250 hostages.Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hone. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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