Synonyms for sharpen
ˈʃɑr pənsharp·en

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:1.0 / 2 votes

1. sharpenverb

   Antonyms:
   blunt

2. sharpenverb

   Antonyms:
   blunt

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:2.5 / 2 votes

1. sharpenverb

   make sharp or sharper

   "sharpen the knives"

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

   Antonyms:
   dull, soften, flatten, blunt, drop

2. sharpenverb

   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. sharpenverb

   become sharp or sharper

   "The debate sharpened"

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

   Antonyms:
   soften, blunt, flatten, dull, drop

4. focus, focalize, focalise, sharpenverb

   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. sharpenverb

   make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper

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

   Antonyms:
   flatten, soften, drop, dull, blunt

6. sharpenverb

   raise the pitch of (musical notes)

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

   Antonyms:
   soften, drop, flatten, blunt, dull

7. sharpen, taper, pointverb

   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, heightenverb

   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

Matched Categories

1. • Adjust
   • Change
   • Change Intensity
   • Change Shape
   • Intensify
   • Music

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

1. sharpenverb

   Synonyms:
   edge, give an edge to, make keen

2. sharpenverb

   Synonyms:
   make eager

3. sharpenverb

   Synonyms:
   sharp, make shrill

4. sharpenverb

   Synonyms:
   intensify, make more intense

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:2.0 / 2 votes

1. sharpenverb

   Synonyms:
   intensify, aggravate, quicken, hone, grind, point, whet

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:2.0 / 1 vote

1. List of paraphrases for "sharpen":

   refine, fine-tune, whet, hone, refocus

How to pronounce sharpen?

How to say sharpen in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use sharpen in a sentence?

1. North Korea:

   The North Korea Foreign Ministry and South Korean authorities remain outwardly talkative about dialogue. But when they sit back, they sharpen a sword to do us harm, if this is what they call' creative approach.

2. Lockheed Martin:

   We want to sharpen the industry base, even if we dont buy them in quantity. We want a big idea pipeline, but we have to commit to it.

3. Alexander Zverev:

   I'm young, so I might as well stay on court and practise a little bit, it's the best, a five-set match. It is the first time Alexander Zverev has reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam and Alexander Zverev will face Austrian seventh seed Dominic Thiem, who beat Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-2 6-0 5-7 6-4. Nishikori took his only break point opportunity to claim the third set but Thiem, twice Roland Garros semi-finalist, regained control in the fourth. Former champion Novak Djokovic never looked in trouble as he booked a 12th quarter-final appearance in Paris with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win over Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco. French Open runner-up Madison Keys advanced to the last eight without dropping a set, defeating Romania's Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-1 6-4. Up next for Keys is Kazakh Yulia Putintseva, who upset 26th seed Czech Barbora Strycova 6-4 6-3. American Stephens sprinted past Estonian Anett Kontaveit 6-2 6-0 to set up a potential semi-final meeting with Keys, whom Anett Kontaveit beat in last year's U.S. Open final. Highlights from day eight( all times GMT :. Play was suspended due to fading light, with Russian Daria Kasatkina leading 7-6( 5) 3-3 against second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki. Zverev's days of living dangerously go on. Roland Garros ready for' legendary' match against Zverev in Paris. Djokovic tames Verdasco to reach last eight. Italian Cecchinato upsets Goffin to reach last eight. American Stephens and Keys on collision course after overcoming French Open hump. Alexander Zverev rocks on by living on the edge. Keys enjoys Sunday stroll into French quarters. Djokovic douses Verdasco fire, unhappy with courts. Impressive Thiem downs Nishikori to set up Alexander Zverev clash. Serena and Sharapova ready to sharpen the edge. Impressive Putintseva stuns Czech Barbora Strycova 6-4 6-3 to reach Paris quarters. Italian Marco Cecchinato, who had never won a Grand Slam match before this week, beat eighth-seeded Belgian David Goffin 7-5 4-6 6-0 6-3 to reach Grand Slam first major quarter-final. At world number 72, Marco Cecchinato becomes the lowest-ranked man to reach the last eight in Paris since Latvian Ernests Gulbis( ranked 80) in 2008. He will next face 2016 champion Novak Djokovic for a place in the final four.

4. Walter Savage Landor:

   Heat and animosity, contest and conflict, may sharpen the wits, although they rarely do; they never strengthen the understanding, clear the perspicacity, guide the judgment, or improve the heart.

5. danwise:

   You dont allways chose what happens to you, but only you can allways chose your attitude. Attitude is your ultimate life tool, sharpen it because you will need it.