as in to grind
to make sharp or sharper you need to sharpen your penknife's blade frequently in order to be able to whittle properly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sharpen This shift in perspective allowed the Austrian physicist Ludwig Boltzmann to reframe and sharpen the idea of entropy using probabilities. Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 13 Dec. 2024 The right approach will likely include three aspects: Effective nurturing engages your imagination, motivates you to sharpen your skills and inspires you to, in some way, serve others. Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2024 Wear gloves while sharpening to protect your hands and wipe off the tools with a clean cloth when you're done. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2024 Use a whetstone to sharpen pruning shears and other blades. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sharpen 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpen
Verb
  • Over the last year, Russia has been on the front foot, with the exception of Kursk, and has been grinding deeper into eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region despite heavy losses.
    Samya Kullab and Tara Copp, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Choose your favorite salt for this recipe, and if possible, freshly grind the black pepper for the best flavor.
    Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • That truly helped me, together with Daniela Thomas, who wrote the screenplay with me, to hone the screenplay and also to elevate it.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Whether your New Year’s wish is to add more stamps to your passport, spend more time in nature, hone your ski skills, or learn a new sport altogether, REI is a one-stop shop for all things active and outdoorsy.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • To whet your appetite, the streaming service has dropped 10 new photos for the upcoming fifth - and final - season.
    Marc Berman, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Some Food-Themed Funnies Cartoons about fine, good, and excellent dining to whet your appetite.
    The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near sharpen

Cite this Entry

“Sharpen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpen. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on sharpen

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!