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
Chance the Rapper, another honoree, hones his influence and charity on young generations in his hometown through his organization Social Works Chicago, which works with mental health providers, the homeless, and public schools.
—
Connor Greene, Time, 22 May 2026
Josh Bergström worked in Burgundy to hone his winemaking skills and then returned home to the Willamette Valley to take over the reins from his parents, John and Karen Bergström.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 22 May 2026
Jones credits that trip with helping to hone her passion for those issues today.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
In the lead-up to production, the two met frequently at Driver’s house in New York to hone the script.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hone
Connor Greene, Time, 22 May 2026
Josh Bergström worked in Burgundy to hone his winemaking skills and then returned home to the Willamette Valley to take over the reins from his parents, John and Karen Bergström.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 22 May 2026
Jones credits that trip with helping to hone her passion for those issues today.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
In the lead-up to production, the two met frequently at Driver’s house in New York to hone the script.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hone
Verb
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The Sun in Gemini energizes your 5th House of Creativity, while Pluto in your sign sharpens your identity and presence.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
26 May 2026
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Our poll findings sharpen the point.—
Tracy Hernandez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 May 2026
Verb
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Like Haiti goalkeeper Josué Duverger, who will swap regional soccer in Germany to rub shoulders with Brazil superstars like Vinícius Júnior and Neymar.—
James Robson,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
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On Valerie, Valerie Harper’s character was killed in a car crash — and then, just to rub it in, the show was renamed The Hogan Family and Sandy Duncan moved into her house.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
23 May 2026
Verb
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Waldorf was used to seeing Shackelford addressing staff at the front of a conference room, polished in a suit and tie.—
Kavitha Surana,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
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Another highlight of my visit was experiencing Bastien's Manicure, an in-spa collaboration with nail-care specialists Bastien Gonzalez, which pairs meticulous cuticle work and a thorough massage with a natural nail-polishing technique that eliminates the need for nail polish entirely.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
Verb
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But even slightly sanded down, their work puts other games to shame.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
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The denim may have never been worn but it is stonewashed, sanded, chemically faded or laser-treated to look like it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Clear one corner, ground your body, and let the next honest thought rise without forcing it.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
26 May 2026
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In those places, the slow conveyor belt of the deep may occasionally give way to something more volatile, building islands that briefly rise above the surface before waves grind them back again.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Alvarez, 41, was in MacArthur Park on May 18 when he was approached by two police officers, who initially mistook him as the suspect in a vehicle theft, according to a Justice Department news release and a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in the Central District of California.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
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In fact, product liability lawsuits alleging patient injuries have been filed overwhelmingly against pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, which manufacture name-brand weight loss drugs, court data shows.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hone. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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