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
Great artists—no matter their medium—are tasked with honing their sensitivity to the world around them in order to interpret and reveal it.
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Michael Chad Hoeppner, TIME, 27 Dec. 2024
Job seekers must be proactive in enhancing their online presence, networking effectively and honing skills that align with emerging industry trends.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
Across the course of a season, this can add up to a substantial number of goals prevented — hence the focus will now be on honing the Londoner’s handling skills after previously being restricted to foot movement and ball striking.
—Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
The delays in filming wound up giving Destiny more time for training and honing her ability to convincingly depict Shields in the ring.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 21 Dec. 2024
Even nearly 50 years on, its focus on self-discovery and the honing personal principles feels important and fresh.
—Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2024
Despite these differences, the mental acuity developed in sim racing can be invaluable, offering an alternate avenue for honing racecraft.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
The freedom to explore and to interact with their surroundings, to spend an afternoon honing a profession, or to pick up a bunch of side-quests and deviate from the main storyline.
—New Atlas, 19 Dec. 2024
Dolman, who previously led Christie’s and Qatar Museums, was credited with raising Phillips’ global profile, particularly in Asia, and honing a focus on sales by emerging contemporary artists.
—Angelica Villa, ARTnews.com, 18 Dec. 2024
Michael Chad Hoeppner, TIME, 27 Dec. 2024
Job seekers must be proactive in enhancing their online presence, networking effectively and honing skills that align with emerging industry trends.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
Across the course of a season, this can add up to a substantial number of goals prevented — hence the focus will now be on honing the Londoner’s handling skills after previously being restricted to foot movement and ball striking.
—Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
The delays in filming wound up giving Destiny more time for training and honing her ability to convincingly depict Shields in the ring.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 21 Dec. 2024
Even nearly 50 years on, its focus on self-discovery and the honing personal principles feels important and fresh.
—Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2024
Despite these differences, the mental acuity developed in sim racing can be invaluable, offering an alternate avenue for honing racecraft.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
The freedom to explore and to interact with their surroundings, to spend an afternoon honing a profession, or to pick up a bunch of side-quests and deviate from the main storyline.
—New Atlas, 19 Dec. 2024
Dolman, who previously led Christie’s and Qatar Museums, was credited with raising Phillips’ global profile, particularly in Asia, and honing a focus on sales by emerging contemporary artists.
—Angelica Villa, ARTnews.com, 18 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honing
Verb
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In a slow, grinding 3-2 Leafs win, Matthews carried the offensive load with a goal, a primary assist and flashes of dominant play reminiscent of his games last season.Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
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Grindstones are thick disks of stone — often sandstone — used for grinding, sharpening, or polishing metal objects, or for milling grains into flour.Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Even ketchup, tomato juice, or spaghetti sauce can do the trick in polishing copper.Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2024
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Some edits and modifications were implemented with the goal of polishing Shakespeare’s language to fit more contemporary voices, trimming down lengthy plots, and adapting 16th-century plays to 17th-century London’s smaller theaters.Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
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There are also situations in the e-filing context, in which a tax professional fails to e-file a return unbeknownst to the taxpayer, that courts have recently found reasonable cause.Andy Weiner, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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There are also situations in the e-filing context, in which a tax professional fails to e-file a return unbeknownst to the taxpayer, that courts have recently found reasonable cause.Andy Weiner, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Start by buffing a small, out-of-sight area with any cleaning solutions listed to make sure there are no reactions or damage.Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2024
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The outside of these types of receptacles need a bit of buffing with a dry microfiber towel to rid of fingerprints, smudges, and stains.Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Honing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honing. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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