SHARPENED Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

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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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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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

Each tool sharpened one department, and the work still crawled between them, because nobody was ever asked to own the crawling. — Krupesh Bhat, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 This is partly what propels his mole demi-glace, a convergence of inspirations realized in a duck and smoked chicken stock sharpened by the foundational components of mole. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpened

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

There is a tragic air to watching a character who is otherwise so grounded become entangled in the elaborate nightmare of a fake college quarterback who is really a disgraced adult football player wearing a prosthetic face.

— Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
Catcher Ryan Jeffers, who earlier doubled in the team’s first run, grounded out to end the inning.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of ground

Verb

That warrant was later recalled after a Court of Appeals judge determined the former governor had filed to have Johnson removed from the case before her warrant was issued.

— Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2026
After the sentencing, Donna’s legal team filed a notice of appeal, per the Tallahassee Democrat.

— Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of filed

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“Sharpened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpened. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of sharpened

adjective

verb

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