1
as in sharpening
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 rubbing
to make smooth by friction
honed the edge of the axe until it was amazingly sharp
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Recent Examples of honing
His culinary journey began early, with formal training in culinary school further honing his skills.
—
Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 1 Oct. 2024
Marketers with the foresight to start adopting and honing these strategies sooner rather than later can be much better positioned once the tide turns.
—Larry Gurreri, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 1 Oct. 2024
Marketers with the foresight to start adopting and honing these strategies sooner rather than later can be much better positioned once the tide turns.
—Larry Gurreri, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honing
Verb
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Multiple governments have accused Pyongyang of supplying arms to Moscow for its grinding war in Ukraine, a charge both countries have denied, despite significant evidence of such transfers.Yoonjung Seo, CNN, 18 Oct. 2024
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This region has a way of grinding up attacks that appear to be transformational.Alexander Smith, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2024
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For Hodgson, one of his priorities last session was making improvements to protect personal privacy, which included filing a bill that would have banned data collected from license plate readers to outside parties.Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 4 Oct. 2024
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Hours before the Mets kept alive their season and continued the promise of a compelling postseason for the New York baseball scene, Yankee Stadium was quiet with the sounds of players filing in for a simulated game and key figures talking about their postseason return following a one-year absence.Larry Fleisher, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Finally, to ensure the doors are working smoothly, Sibley suggests applying high-quality car wax to the aluminum, buffing off the wax with a microfiber towel, and then finishing with a light coat of WD40 or Silicone spray on the rollers.Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2024
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If the copper is heavily tarnished, let the toothpaste's active ingredients work on the patina for ten minutes or so before buffing.Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Honing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honing. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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