sharpened 1 of 2

adjective

as in sharp
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something the sharpened blade of a lawn mower

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sharpened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of sharpen
as in edged
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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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 sharpened
Verb
Their partnership also sharpened her already acute sense of humor. — Shima Oliaee, Time, 26 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, the Israeli prime minister also sharpened his already-combative rhetoric against Erdogan. — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026 The two would meet regularly at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Davis’ West Coast outpost, as Jackson sharpened his A&R skills, and long after. — Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2026 Under his leadership, the company has sharpened its identity, modernized its direct-to-consumer engine, and elevated its heritage brands in both cultural influence and commercial performance. — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 The interests of the United States and its partners still run together, and that logic has sharpened as China’s power and the alignment of its fellow revisionists have grown. — Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Her boredom was sharpened by the discovery that most of her initial assumptions were wrong. — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 The easiest way to go about tightlining is to start with a soft pencil eyeliner that is sharpened enough not to risk scratching you, but gel or liquid eyeliner also works. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2026 This summer’s heat has further sharpened that priority, and also brought home the complexity of managing it. — Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpened
  1. sharp
  2. edged
  3. jagged
  4. ground
  5. filed
Adjective
  • These critters may look cute and cuddly, but their sharp claws are anything but.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Domagal-Goldman compared Roman’s capabilities to capturing an all-encompassing view of a forest as well as seeing sharp details of its trees, like leaves and birds, all at the same time.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of sharp
Verb
  • Her fancy galloon may have once edged a cap or other garments, now serving as the only indication of her elevated social class.
    — Mike McRae August 25, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In the painting, this loaf of bread is carefully laid on her lap over a towel edged with blue stripes.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of edged
Adjective
  • Ragged, jagged or fluffy edges point to a Bristol Type 6 stool, meaning waste moved through the colon too fast for water to be absorbed properly.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Nepal is a country of jagged, towering peaks with sheer slopes sweeping down to narrow valleys, cut through by powerful rivers.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of jagged
Verb
  • Caglianone represented the tying run but grounded out on the first pitch against Blue Jays closer Louis Varland.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Transportation was also the leading cause of fatal injuries among truck drivers, fishing and hunting workers, refuse collectors and grounds maintenance workers.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of ground
Verb
  • Cook denied the allegations and filed a lawsuit challenging her dismissal.
    — Kevin Breuninger,Dan Mangan, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Patty Hector, who was fired by the county in October 2023, filed the lawsuit in February 2025 with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas.
    — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of filed

Browse Nearby Words

sharpen
sharpened
sharpening
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Cite this Entry

“Sharpened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpened. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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