hone

verb

ˈhōn How to pronounce hone (audio)
Definition of honenext
1
as in to sharpen
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to rub
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 hone The film was of course directed by a filmmaker who honed his craft and built an audience on a Google/YouTube platform, while influencers themselves are expected to use more AI tools in the coming year. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2026 Beginning in her early teens, Joyce loved watching Kirk’s debates on Instagram, seeing in them not carefully honed rhetorical tactics but authentic civility. — Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 Following his jail release in 1962, the burgeoning musician honed his chops on Toronto's Yonge Street strip, soaking up the R&B influences of the local music scene. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 25 June 2026 Dedicated To Making Gorgeous Things Before launching his eponymous brand Artur spent a decade honing his craft at his family’s leather workshops with his father Oleksandr. — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hone
  1. sharpen
  2. rub
  3. polish
  4. sand
  5. grind
  6. file
Verb
  • The scribe carefully inscribed each line with a quill made from a goose feather, while their other hand wielded an erasing knife used to sharpen the quill and scrape away any mistakes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • Your 3rd House of Communication awakens as the intuitive Moon moves in, sharpening timing and nudging you to say what helps tasks move.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2026
Definition of sharpen
Verb
  • An agitator is a post in the machine’s center that twists so the clothes can rub against each other, while impellers have a cone or disc on the bottom of the drum that spins.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2026
  • Thyme When their essential oils are released and rubbed onto the skin, thyme plants, including creeping thyme, can help keep mosquitoes away.
    — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 5 July 2026
Definition of rub
Verb
  • Parker Kitternan was busy at the console of the church's pipe organ, polishing his musical tribute for the weekend.
    — Joe Holden, CBS News, 29 June 2026
  • Wear it with flat sandals for a beachfront dinner or add wedges and simple jewelry for an outfit that feels polished enough for a special occasion.
    — Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026
Definition of polish
Verb
  • Their work included sanding the benches along the Naperville Riverwalk.
    — Evgenia Anastasakos, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
  • The dredge is conducted by crane and excavator barges that dig sand up and deposit it in another barge.
    — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026
Definition of sand
Verb
  • These matchups are intense and, usually, grind-it-out battles of attrition between two proud soccer nations.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Then, Djokovic had the skills to blow his opponents away, but could also grind them down if needed, knowing that his superior fitness and durability would more than likely win out.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of grind
Verb
  • The Guard's deployment to Memphis has been subject to a lawsuit, filed by a group of Democratic officials from the local and state level.
    — Lucas Finton, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • In the last year, Actor’s Equity has filed at least seven labor complaints against Casa Bonita with the National Labor Relations Board for retaliation and refusal to bargain.
    — Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of file

Browse Nearby Words

honchos
hone
honed
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Cite this Entry

“Hone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hone. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hone

Nglish: Translation of hone for Spanish Speakers

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