as in grinding
to make sharp or sharper
you need to sharpen your penknife's blade frequently in order to be able to whittle properly
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Recent Examples of sharpening
The warehouse’s operator, Lineage Logistics, previously faced federal penalties over ammonia safety in Iowa and a smaller fire in Boyle Heights in 2024, sharpening scrutiny of its handling of hazardous refrigerants.
—
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Morocco has just leapfrogged South Africa in the African Development Bank industrial ranking, sharpening the urgency to cut costs that hollow out factories.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 15 June 2026
Exercise improves mental health by triggering mood-boosting brain chemicals, easing tension, improving sleep and sharpening focus, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Regulators are sharpening their focus on sustainability claims, climate disclosures, supply chain labor practices, and the carbon offset markets.
—Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Ambition meets heart as the temperamental Moon in your 10th House of Career conjoins warrior Mars there, sharpening visibility and focus.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
The Go Generation 3 keeps the formula intact while sharpening the parts that mattered most, and it's pitched squarely at festivals, travel, and impromptu social gatherings.
—New Atlas, 10 June 2026
An appetite for playing too many games on home soil instead of sharpening resolve in hostile foreign venues.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
Over the last few weeks, my cat Pixel has been leaving quite the claw-sharpening impression on the back of the Atlas, which is now covered in many little holes.
—Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 9 June 2026
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Morocco has just leapfrogged South Africa in the African Development Bank industrial ranking, sharpening the urgency to cut costs that hollow out factories.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 15 June 2026
Exercise improves mental health by triggering mood-boosting brain chemicals, easing tension, improving sleep and sharpening focus, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Regulators are sharpening their focus on sustainability claims, climate disclosures, supply chain labor practices, and the carbon offset markets.
—Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Ambition meets heart as the temperamental Moon in your 10th House of Career conjoins warrior Mars there, sharpening visibility and focus.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
The Go Generation 3 keeps the formula intact while sharpening the parts that mattered most, and it's pitched squarely at festivals, travel, and impromptu social gatherings.
—New Atlas, 10 June 2026
An appetite for playing too many games on home soil instead of sharpening resolve in hostile foreign venues.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026
Over the last few weeks, my cat Pixel has been leaving quite the claw-sharpening impression on the back of the Atlas, which is now covered in many little holes.
—Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpening
Verb
-
The boys were grinding today, my goodness.—
Mark Anderson,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
Antonelli had actually just managed to pass Russell on track on lap 61 before grinding to a halt a lap later.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Growing up watching the Food Network, Castro, 34, learned all the basics about preparing the perfect meal while honing her craft at home.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
-
Google has been honing Adaptive Connectivity for a few generations on the Pixel.—
Florence Ion,
PC Magazine,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sharpening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpening. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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