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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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 sharpening The camp helps students build their endurance, while also sharpening their skills. — Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 29 July 2026 Two sequels expanded the world, sharpening the original’s themes and cementing the series as one of Disney’s most durable modern properties. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 25 July 2026 Even if mower blades appear to be in relatively good condition, blades that remain dull after sharpening should be replaced to give your lawn a cleaner cut next time. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 24 July 2026 And The Agentic Economy From demand forecasting and assortment planning to pricing, recommendations and inventory optimization, AI is accelerating and sharpening decision-making across the aftermarket. — Anan Bishara, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 Ultimately, the former may be worth the investment, as sharpening can cost you more in the long run. — Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 22 July 2026 Finance chiefs spend months refining the narrative, sharpening the metrics, and testing the waters with institutional investors to gauge whether the investment case will hold up once the market opens. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 22 July 2026 By the time Phaedra’s birthday dinner rolls around, the sound of Porsha sharpening her knives reaches its height. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 20 July 2026 While artists are focusing on sharpening their skills and expanding their reach, their releases are being used to train models that replicate the output of real musicians quicker than performers can safeguard their intellectual property. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 20 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpening
  1. grinding
  2. honing
Verb
  • Pay attention to unusual rattling, buzzing, grinding or squealing sounds.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Eversource spent the better part of the spring and early summer in a wide, sideways channel, grinding between roughly $66 and $72 while the 200-day continued its long climb higher.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 30 July 2026
Definition of grinding
Verb
  • 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
Definition of honing

Browse Nearby Words

sharpened
sharpening
sharpens
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Cite this Entry

“Sharpening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpening. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sharpening

Nglish: Translation of sharpening for Spanish Speakers

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