Synonyms for sharpen
ˈʃɑr pən

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. sharpen(verb)

   make sharp or sharper

   "sharpen the knives"

   Synonyms:
   focus, focalize, taper, focalise, heighten, point

   Antonyms:
   dull, soften, flatten, blunt, drop

2. sharpen(verb)

   make crisp or more crisp and precise

   "We had to sharpen our arguments"

   Synonyms:
   focus, focalize, taper, focalise, heighten, point

   Antonyms:
   dull, drop, soften, blunt, flatten

3. sharpen(verb)

   become sharp or sharper

   "The debate sharpened"

   Synonyms:
   focus, focalize, taper, focalise, heighten, point

   Antonyms:
   soften, blunt, flatten, dull, drop

4. focus, focalize, focalise, sharpen(verb)

   put (an image) into focus

   "Please focus the image; we cannot enjoy the movie"

   Synonyms:
   center, rivet, concentrate, localise, localize, centre, focalise, concentre, taper, point, pore, focalize, focus, heighten, concenter

   Antonyms:
   flatten, dull, blunt, soften, drop

5. sharpen(verb)

   make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper

   Synonyms:
   focus, focalize, taper, focalise, heighten, point

   Antonyms:
   flatten, soften, drop, dull, blunt

6. sharpen(verb)

   raise the pitch of (musical notes)

   Synonyms:
   focus, focalize, taper, focalise, heighten, point

   Antonyms:
   soften, drop, flatten, blunt, dull

7. sharpen, taper, point(verb)

   give a point to

   "The candles are tapered"

   Synonyms:
   manoeuvre, manoeuver, focus, head, bespeak, indicate, aim, betoken, maneuver, place, taper, luff, designate, guide, repoint, heighten, focalise, direct, channelize, focalize, point, charge, channelise, target, steer, signal, level, orient, show

   Antonyms:
   dull, drop, flatten, blunt, soften

8. sharpen, heighten(verb)

   make (one's senses) more acute

   "This drug will sharpen your vision"

   Synonyms:
   taper, enhance, compound, rise, focalise, point, heighten, raise, focalize, focus, intensify, deepen

   Antonyms:
   drop, blunt, soften, flatten, dull

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. sharpen(verb)

   Antonyms:
   blunt

2. sharpen(verb)

   To make sharp

   Antonyms:
   blunt

Dictionary of English Synonymes(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. sharpen(v. a.)

   Synonyms:
   edge, give an edge to, make keen

2. sharpen(v. a.)

   Synonyms:
   make eager

3. sharpen(v. a.)

   Synonyms:
   sharp, make shrill

4. sharpen(v. a.)

   Synonyms:
   intensify, make more intense

PPDB, the paraphrase database(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

List of paraphrases:

refine, fine-tune, whet, hone, refocus

How to use sharpen in a sentence?

1. Ungad Chadda:

   It allows us to sharpen our focus.

2. Debasish Mridha, M.D.:

   Great habits sharpen our thoughts and make us great.

3. Peter Ustinov:

   Parents are the bones on which children sharpen their teeth.

4. Oscar Levant:

   The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.

5. Confucius:

   The expectations of life depend upon diligence the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.

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