What does sharpen mean?
Sharpen means (transitive, sometimes figurative) To make sharp..
Sharpen
/ˈʃɑɹpən/ · verb
Meaning
(transitive, sometimes figurative) To make sharp..
Definitions by Sense
- (transitive, sometimes figurative) To make sharp.
- (intransitive) To become sharp.
Example Sentences
to sharpen a pencil or a knife or a musical note
He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill.
The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing influence on our lives.[…]who, if anyone, is policing their use. Such concerns were sharpened further by the continuing revelations about how the US National Security Agency (NSA) has been using algorithms to help it interpret the colossal amounts of data it has collected from its covert dragnet of international telecommunications.
The organizers said they had found themselves "more involved in the web of social convulsions and violence that is tormenting our country. The present economic crisis, the grave political instability and the rapidly sharpening violence have finally overtaken […] our wishes.
Synonyms for sharpen
Antonyms for sharpen
Related Words
Word Forms
- sharpens
- sharpening
- sharpened
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for sharpen?
Common synonyms include hone, whet, point, focus.
What is the opposite of sharpen?
Possible antonyms include blunt, blur, dull, drop.
How do you use sharpen in a sentence?
to sharpen a pencil or a knife or a musical note
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.