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 Moon moves through practical Virgo, sharpening our eye for details, routines, and the small choices that make life easier. — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Israel’s first election since the attack is sharpening anger over security failures and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while public discussion largely overlooks Palestinian civilians’ lives. — Cara Anna, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 Wear Lipstick in Russian Red, sharpening around the mouth with Jones Road The Lip Pencil in Tawny Nude. — Fawnia Soo Hoo, Allure, 5 Oct. 2026 That is not Brutus sharpening his dagger on the Senate steps – that is what good governance looks like, and by any rule of good governance, Goldman Sachs is lucky to have David Solomon continuing at the helm. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026 According to Disney, the hiring of Anand illustrates that D’Amaro is sharpening the company’s focus on technology as a growth driver. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026 Arik compared the process to repeatedly sharpening a pencil until only a tiny IKEA-style pencil remained. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026 Past a certain point, more preparation buries the message instead of sharpening it. — Lynn Smith, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 Beyond that, sharpening a feel for when the initial danger has diminished should help the quarterback find a little extra time and space to reset and attack. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpening

Verb

After grinding to Akon during their belly dancing date, Cam and Aneha find common ground around growing up in low-income families when their parents lost their jobs.

— Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
While the left spent all week whining about Sophie Cunningham's hat and firing squad best practices, us PATRIOTS were biding our time, keeping our heads down, and grinding towards another weekend.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of grinding

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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 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sharpening

verb

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