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
Its 62-kilometer track is where Mercedes engineers can develop and hone every new vehicle in conditions experienced all around the world.
—
Chad Kirchner, ArsTechnica, 9 June 2025
In Kansas City, Kozakiewicz was who Platt often turned to for promoting his key initiatives and honing the city’s messaging.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2025
For anyone who visited a basketball court around Oakland in the 2000s, there was a decent chance that a future WNBA all-star could be seen there, honing her skills.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 7 June 2025
Before presenting a new strategy or making a big internal ask, imagine if teams practiced the way sales does—honing clarity, anticipating pushback and learning to communicate with empathy and confidence.
—Mike Villalobos, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone
Chad Kirchner, ArsTechnica, 9 June 2025
In Kansas City, Kozakiewicz was who Platt often turned to for promoting his key initiatives and honing the city’s messaging.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2025
For anyone who visited a basketball court around Oakland in the 2000s, there was a decent chance that a future WNBA all-star could be seen there, honing her skills.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 7 June 2025
Before presenting a new strategy or making a big internal ask, imagine if teams practiced the way sales does—honing clarity, anticipating pushback and learning to communicate with empathy and confidence.
—Mike Villalobos, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hone
Verb
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Players slid into second with their spikes high (and sometimes even sharpened).—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
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For the organizations willing to sharpen their focus and optimize with discipline, this moment becomes a springboard for market leadership.—
Craig Dempster,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Spray each area of the body for at least six seconds from just a few inches away, and then rub it in.—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer,
Health,
16 June 2025
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Just slice an onion and rub it along the grates using tongs.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
15 June 2025
Verb
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The 55-year-old former model polished up the look with Christian Louboutin denim pumps.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
14 June 2025
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Williams is also still polishing his footwork and becoming more comfortable operating from under center.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Guesses ranged from great whites to sand tigers to makos.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
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The hood's finish is created by layering a base coat of paint that is then sanded down with a Maybach pattern that is printed onto it, adding two coats of clear lacquer to complete the process.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, families across America are grinding five, six, even seven days a week just to stay afloat.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
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While the Bruins took care of some key business in the hiring of new head coach Marco Sturm, the team’s scouting and management staffs have been been grinding through some planning for the future that is just as vital as the next coach.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Sierra Club files federal suit over city law April 5, 2024 4:00 AM Read Next Boise & Garden City Sierra Club sued Boise over the city’s protest-megaphone ban.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
13 June 2025
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The state filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the move that's heading for court arguments later June 12.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hone. Accessed 21 Jun. 2025.
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