as in sharp
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
the sharpened blade of a lawn mower
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 sharpened
Bryan West, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
But over the last decade, that intelligence has only sharpened.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Keeping knives properly sharpened transforms the entire rhythm of cooking, making every slice cleaner and every dish more consistent.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
The series is inviting TV Academy and guild voters to have their knives sharpened for free at the Studio City Farmers Market on May 3rd.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Even though Top Gear is accusing the new car of looking like a 'wing back chair,' the body has been improved aerodynamically and handling has been sharpened.
—New Atlas, 27 Apr. 2026
The experience has sharpened Beijing’s focus.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
The campaign that year felt predictable — Obama was favored to win — but the political climate was sharpened by the Tea Party, a conservative grassroots movement within the Republican Party that sought to repeal Obamacare.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, The Dial, 21 Apr. 2026
As the Beatles began to splinter, Spitz writes, the Stones sharpened their focus.
—Marc Ballon, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
While country storytelling shaped her structure, Swift said emo and pop-punk music sharpened her lyrical instincts.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
But over the last decade, that intelligence has only sharpened.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Keeping knives properly sharpened transforms the entire rhythm of cooking, making every slice cleaner and every dish more consistent.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
The series is inviting TV Academy and guild voters to have their knives sharpened for free at the Studio City Farmers Market on May 3rd.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Even though Top Gear is accusing the new car of looking like a 'wing back chair,' the body has been improved aerodynamically and handling has been sharpened.
—New Atlas, 27 Apr. 2026
The experience has sharpened Beijing’s focus.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
The campaign that year felt predictable — Obama was favored to win — but the political climate was sharpened by the Tea Party, a conservative grassroots movement within the Republican Party that sought to repeal Obamacare.
—Nataliya Gumenyuk, The Dial, 21 Apr. 2026
As the Beatles began to splinter, Spitz writes, the Stones sharpened their focus.
—Marc Ballon, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpened
Adjective
-
Nikola Katic, a mountain of a defender, all elbows and sharp edges, was terrific before suffering a season-ending injury during Bosnia and Herzegovina’s World Cup qualification win over Italy.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Three candidates are vying to lead Chula Vista, San Diego County’s second-largest city, in the June primary, with the winner set to serve a four-year term atop a City Council that has been marked in recent years by sharp partisan division.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Boone edged Lyman 36-34 for the Olympic style title.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Oil prices edged higher Tuesday as uncertainty lingered over the outcome of the war.—
Sean Conlon,Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On immigration, Tamayo offered unequivocal support for the ordinance, grounding his position in personal experience with affected families during his 11 years as a Chula Vista Elementary School District trustee.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Lead with calm confidence, but keep your claims grounded.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
According to court records obtained by USA TODAY, a class action lawsuit against Wren Kitchens US subsidiary was filed alleging that the company violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The National Religious Broadcasters association filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission, asking the agency to investigate ABC.—
David Bauder,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The plane hitting the water is destructive enough without the help of a jagged coral reef (improbably far from any coastline) slicing through the aircraft’s undercarriage.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Known for their jagged peaks, glacial lakes, and vast icefields, the Canadian Rockies are among the world’s most stunning mountain ranges, forming a natural divide between Alberta and British Columbia.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sharpened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpened. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
