sharpens
Makes more acute
Sharpens is the verb form of sharpen—to make or become sharp.
You sharpen a knife by honing its edge, sharpen a pencil by whittling its point.
Figuratively, experience sharpens skills, debate sharpens arguments, and focus sharpens as distractions fade: Competition sharpens your instincts.
Features sharpen when they become more distinct or defined.
Sustained single-minded attention
- attentionFocused mental awareness
- clarityState of being understandable
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
mindfulness · acuity · precision · alertness · vigilance · discernment · insight · observation
Sharpens or refines
- refinesMakes purer or better
- improvesGets better gradually
- developsComes into being gradually
- enhancesIncreases quality or appeal
polishes · cultivates · perfects · practices · trains · strengthens · advances · elevates
Stone for sharpening blades
- honingGradual sharpening or refining
- stroppingSharpening on leather
- grindstoneRotating stone for sharpening
- knifeSharp cutting utensil
blade · edge · razor · axe · chisel · scythe · scissors · sword
Increases in degree
- amplifiesIncreases strength or volume
- escalatesIncreases in intensity
- deepensIncreases in degree
- increasesBecomes greater in amount
accentuates · magnifies · enhances · strengthens · reinforces · aggravates · exacerbates · contrasts
concentration
Sustained single-minded attention
- attentionFocused mental awareness
- clarityState of being understandable
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
perception · mindfulness · acuity · precision · alertness · vigilance · discernment · insight · observation · mental
hones
Sharpens or refines
enhances · polishes · cultivates · perfects · practices · trains · strengthens · advances · elevates · techniques
whetstone
Stone for sharpening blades
- honingGradual sharpening or refining
- stroppingSharpening on leather
- grindstoneRotating stone for sharpening
knife · blade · edge · razor · axe · chisel · scythe · scissors · sword · steel
heightens
Increases in degree
increases · accentuates · magnifies · enhances · strengthens · reinforces · aggravates · exacerbates · contrasts · differences
pencil
Graphite writing instrument
spear · needle · tip · nib · crayon · charcoal · whittling · carving · tapering
sharpensdulls
Reduces sharpness or intensity
blunts · wears down · rounds · nicks · erodes
- pencil sharpenerTool for honing writing instruments
- knife sharpener
- not the sharpest tool in the shedEuphemism for unintelligent
- not the sharpest knife in the drawerUnintelligent, said gently
- not the sharpest tool
- not the sharpest tool in the boxLacking mental acuity
sharpen, sharper, sharpening, sharpened, sharpener, sharpest, unsharpened, resharpen, resharpens