honing

verb

present participle of hone
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 honing The action star has been honing his tough, stoic hero bit for going on 25 years. — Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2026 The group’s fourth album Welcome to my Blue Sky was released in the spring of 2025, one which finds the group further honing their melodic, hooky songwriting. — Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Ukrainian drone commanders are honing their targeting of Russian refineries and leaving swaths of Crimea with no fuel or power, while Russia ramps up attacks on Ukraine’s gas stations. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 30 July 2026 The program, taking place online over the next three days, gives a diverse group of trans artists an opportunity to meet with mentors in their field with the hope of honing their voices and developing future projects. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 27 July 2026 Inspired by legends like Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson, Clint Black spent years honing his craft in Texas clubs and honky-tonks before breaking through with his landmark 1989 album, Killin' Time. — Staff Author, Southern Living, 14 July 2026 Participants gain real-world experience in agriculture, hospitality, customer service and food preparation — all while honing their ability to communicate in English with customers and coworkers. — Madeleine Kashkooli, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2026 Avelar is a part of an extracurricular program run by America SCORES Bay Area, a nonprofit that allows students to learn and play the sport of soccer, as well as honing some of their academic skills through poetry. — Sara Donchey, CBS News, 25 June 2026 In the meantime, the teen appears to be honing her stunt skills. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 20 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for honing
  1. sharpening
  2. rubbing
  3. grinding
  4. polishing
  5. filing
  6. sanding
  7. buffing
Verb
  • The Sun conjoins Mercury in Virgo and your 1st House of Self, sharpening your voice, presence, choices, and personal direction.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Truist focused on growth Truist has been sharpening its strategic focus on growth and performance.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of sharpening
Verb
  • Rubbing Alcohol Head to the drug store for a bottle of 70% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol to clean windows.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The redyed fabrics showed uniform color uptake and washing and rubbing fastness comparable to the reference fabric, according to the study.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of rubbing
Verb
  • Its core 1970s grinding yet melodic bluesy approach didn’t shift when synthesizers became the rage in the 1980s or when grunge overtook the rock world in the 1990s.
    — Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The strain of ‘climbing the ladder’ The best esports players often have grinding schedules.
    — Erica D. Henn, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of grinding
Verb
  • Live Edit, Video Capture, and Formats Snap Pro 26 continues to build on past iterations' strengths by keeping what worked and further polishing it.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Founders often spend too much time polishing the story when skeptical early adopters are looking for evidence of execution.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of polishing
Verb
  • The petitioners, primarily represented by Adam Pauley, responded in filing a document requesting the board to strike the objections.
    — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In 1981, after filing an Equal Employment Opportunity complaint, Shulman became a jumper.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of filing
Verb
  • For more than five decades, the brand has grown without sanding down the personality that made its original spaces memorable.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Before planting any hibiscus seeds, start by nicking or sanding the seeds using fine-grade sandpaper or the tip of a knife.
    — Shelby Vittek, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of sanding
Verb
  • Classes and skills lean into different styles of play; Astromech droids are entirely support-focused, generating AP (action points) and buffing the party, while the Assault is focused on heavy damage and drawing aggro.
    — Hayes Madsen, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Rapinchuk adds that a Magic Eraser is a useful cleaning tool for buffing out scuffs and marks.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of buffing

Browse Nearby Words

honeys
honing
honing in (on)
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Cite this Entry

“Honing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honing. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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