SHARPENING Synonyms: 15 Similar and Opposite Words

sharpening

verb

present participle of sharpen

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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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 sharpening 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, 27 Aug. 2026 Born April 19, 1946, in Grappenhall, England, Curry trained in drama at the University of Birmingham before sharpening his acting skills in theater. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026 Under the Arthēa name the company is sharpening its focus on making wellness and personal care accessible to more people. — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026 Mercury enters Virgo and your 3rd House of Communication, sharpening texts, emails, errands, sibling dynamics, neighborhood plans, and everyday logistics. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026 Summary Executive leadership is inherently high-pressure, with crises initially sharpening focus and vigilance. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 The expert becomes the manager of an artificial team, reviewing, redirecting, correcting, and sharpening outputs at speed. — Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 This surge in debt issuance — including less-visible forms of leverage — is sharpening the focus on whether the eventual returns from AI infrastructure can justify the vast sums being spent. — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpening

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

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

Definition of honing

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sharpened

sharpening

sharpens

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

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Synonyms of sharpening

verb

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