as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
using a finely honed butcher knife will make cutting meat easier
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1
as in whetted
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 rubbed
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 honed
Carolyn Giardina, Variety, 28 Dec. 2024
Born Richard Capri in Reading, Pennsylvania, Capri honed his early skills as a comedian as a clerk in his father’s grocery store doing comedy mimes of the customers.
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
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
The 250-year-old shoe brand has honed the art of the comfy slip-on shoe, and today, its slides, sandals, and clogs are synonymous with easygoing comfort and effortless style.
—Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2024
Each one honed their craft with unwavering focus.
—Ann Kirschner, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Warrior-leadership unleashed is a genuine expression honed from a strong sense of self.
—Chip Bell, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
His first drew heavily on his childhood memories and on the kitchen skills honed by watching his grandma cook and then deconstructing her recipes.
—Kendra Nordin Beato, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2024
Being able to carry out this type of attack—dropping one bomb after the other in waves of precise and repeated airstrikes—is an important skill that has been honed by Israel to penetrate bunkers and will work just as well in Iran.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
Often, the skills these artisans honed on other movies helped prepare them for the leap to directing.
—Carolyn Giardina, Variety, 28 Dec. 2024
Born Richard Capri in Reading, Pennsylvania, Capri honed his early skills as a comedian as a clerk in his father’s grocery store doing comedy mimes of the customers.
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
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
The 250-year-old shoe brand has honed the art of the comfy slip-on shoe, and today, its slides, sandals, and clogs are synonymous with easygoing comfort and effortless style.
—Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 26 Dec. 2024
Each one honed their craft with unwavering focus.
—Ann Kirschner, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Warrior-leadership unleashed is a genuine expression honed from a strong sense of self.
—Chip Bell, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
His first drew heavily on his childhood memories and on the kitchen skills honed by watching his grandma cook and then deconstructing her recipes.
—Kendra Nordin Beato, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2024
Being able to carry out this type of attack—dropping one bomb after the other in waves of precise and repeated airstrikes—is an important skill that has been honed by Israel to penetrate bunkers and will work just as well in Iran.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near honed
Cite this Entry
“Honed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honed. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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