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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Recent Examples of honed
Jay Patel, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Her films have won film festival awards internationally, and she’s honed both leadership and collaborative spirit in the Orchard Project Episodic Lab, the Outfest Screenwriting Lab, IFP, and the Austin Film Festival.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
The difference comes down to evolution again, which has honed our ability to see, hear, touch, smell and taste over millions of years.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Everything is practised and honed and practised some more.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
Duke University’s men’s basketball success over the years—the national championships, the Final Four appearances, all the NBA players who’ve honed their craft down in Durham—has created a blue-chip brand.
—Sean Gregory, TIME, 11 Mar. 2025
Their problem-solving abilities, honed through years of navigating challenges, should be highly valued.
—Alex Shubat, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Rothwell honed her sense of humor growing up as a military brat.
—Phoebe Reilly, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2025
The Rodriguez family has honed their technique since 1970, drawing diners from downtown and the surrounding neighborhood for tacos, gooey yellow cheese enchiladas, and loaded combo plates.
—Edmund Tijerina, Bon Appétit, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
Your intuition, honed by experience and mindful observation, is a powerful, often untapped resource.
—Jay Patel, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Her films have won film festival awards internationally, and she’s honed both leadership and collaborative spirit in the Orchard Project Episodic Lab, the Outfest Screenwriting Lab, IFP, and the Austin Film Festival.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
The difference comes down to evolution again, which has honed our ability to see, hear, touch, smell and taste over millions of years.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Everything is practised and honed and practised some more.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
Duke University’s men’s basketball success over the years—the national championships, the Final Four appearances, all the NBA players who’ve honed their craft down in Durham—has created a blue-chip brand.
—Sean Gregory, TIME, 11 Mar. 2025
Their problem-solving abilities, honed through years of navigating challenges, should be highly valued.
—Alex Shubat, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Rothwell honed her sense of humor growing up as a military brat.
—Phoebe Reilly, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2025
The Rodriguez family has honed their technique since 1970, drawing diners from downtown and the surrounding neighborhood for tacos, gooey yellow cheese enchiladas, and loaded combo plates.
—Edmund Tijerina, Bon Appétit, 27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Honed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honed. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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