SHARPEN: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for SHARPEN?

Need another word that means the same as “sharpen”? Find 18 synonyms and 30 related words for “sharpen” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Sharpen” are: heighten, focalise, focalize, focus, point, taper, make sharp, make sharper, hone, whet, strop, grind, file, improve, brush up, polish up, better, enhance

Sharpen as a Verb

Definitions of "Sharpen" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “sharpen” as a verb can have the following definitions:

  • Raise the pitch of (a note) by a semitone.
  • Put (an image) into focus.
  • Make or become sharp or sharper.
  • Make sharp or sharper.
  • Make crisp or more crisp and precise.
  • Make (one's senses) more acute.
  • Raise the pitch of (musical notes.
  • Give a point to.
  • Become sharp or sharper.
  • Improve or cause to improve.
  • Make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper.

Synonyms of "Sharpen" as a verb (18 Words)

betterGet better.
The residents are mostly Londoners who have bettered themselves.
brush upRub with a brush, or as if with a brush.
enhanceIntensify, increase, or further improve the quality, value, or extent of.
His refusal does nothing to enhance his reputation.
fileSmooth with a file.
File one s fingernails.
focaliseConcentrate on a particular place or spot.
focalizeConfine (a disease or infection) to a particular site in the body.
The narrative discourse is focalized around the consciousness of the central protagonist.
focusPut an image into focus.
She focused her eyes on his face.
grindCreated by grinding.
There were sweaty bodies everywhere bumping and grinding to the music.
heightenMake (something) higher.
Heightened interest.
honeSharpen with a hone.
The detectives honed in on the suspect.
improveTo make better.
The editor improved the manuscript with his changes.
make sharpReach a destination, either real or abstract.
make sharperCalculate as being.
pointGive a point to.
Point a gun.
polish upImprove or perfect by pruning or polishing.
stropSharpen on or with a strop.
Strop razors.
taperGradually lessen.
The tail tapers to a rounded tip.
whetSharpen by rubbing as on a whetstone.
She took out her dagger and began to whet its blade in even rhythmic strokes.

Usage Examples of "Sharpen" as a verb

  • Students will sharpen up their reading skills.
  • We had to sharpen our arguments.
  • She sharpened her pencil.
  • This drug will sharpen your vision.
  • The debate sharpened.
  • Sharpen the knives.
  • Her tone sharpened.
  • They've got to sharpen up in front of the goal.

Associations of "Sharpen" (30 Words)

abrasiveCausing abrasion.
The trees were abrasive to the touch.
awlA pointed tool for marking surfaces or for punching small holes.
axChop or split with an ax.
The NSF axed the research program and stopped funding it.
chopForm or shape by chopping.
All these projects are destined for the chop.
clipperA fast sailing ship used in former times.
A set of hair clippers.
crushThe act of crushing.
The car crushed the toy.
drudgeryHard menial or dull work.
Domestic drudgery.
finelyIn a subtle or sensitive manner.
Finely tailored suits.
flourGrind grain into flour.
Manioc flour.
forkLift with a pitchfork.
He has forked my bishop and knight.
grindMake a grating or grinding sound by rubbing together.
There were sweaty bodies everywhere bumping and grinding to the music.
hammerThe sport of throwing a hammer.
Hammer the metal flat.
heightenIncrease.
The athletes kept jumping over the steadily heightened bars.
honeSharpen with a hone.
The detectives honed in on the suspect.
knifeCut or move cleanly through something with a knife like action.
A shard of steel knifed through the mainsail.
mashCrush or smash something to a pulp.
I ve just mashed a pot of tea.
millGrind something in a mill.
In the machine shop we mill and grind the castings.
pointedHaving a point.
Another pointed look in their direction.
powderAny of various cosmetic or medical preparations dispensed in the form of a pulverized powder.
Powder skiing.
pulverizeReduce to fine particles.
He had a winning car and pulverized the opposition.
razorCut with a razor.
The tapered cut is razored to give movement.
scalpelA thin straight surgical knife used in dissection and surgery.
scissorsDenoting an action in which two things cross each other or open and close like the blades of a pair of scissors.
A dummy scissors from David Thomas deceived the opposition.
sharpA long sharply pointed needle used for general sewing.
He heard him playing a little sharp on the high notes.
shredTear or cut into shreds.
Her dress was torn to shreds.
sickleAn edge tool for cutting grass or crops; has a curved blade and a short handle.
squashEdible fruit of a squash plant eaten as a vegetable.
She needled him with such venom that Seb was visibly squashed.
tampA tool for tamping e g for tamping tobacco into a pipe bowl or a charge into a drill hole etc.
When the hole was tamped to the top gunpowder was inserted.
tridentA three-pronged spear, especially as an attribute of Poseidon (Neptune) or Britannia.
whetSharpen by rubbing as on a whetstone.
The selection of quotations may whet your curiosity to investigate the source material.

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