Word Study
sharpen
CIDE DICTIONARY
To make sharp. [1913 Webster]
"The air . . . sharpened his visual ray
To objects distant far." [1913 Webster]
To objects distant far." [1913 Webster]
"He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill." [1913 Webster]
"Epicurean cooks
Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite." [1913 Webster]
Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite." [1913 Webster]
"Inclosures not only preserve sound, but increase and sharpen it." [1913 Webster]
sharpen, v. i.
To grow or become sharp. [1913 Webster]
THESAURUS
sharpen
accelerate, aculeate, acuminate, agent provocateur, aggravate, amplify, animate, annoy, augment, barb, beef up, blow up, build up, complicate, concentrate, condense, consolidate, cultivate, cuspidate, deepen, deteriorate, double, dress, edge, embitter, enhance, enlarge, enliven, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excite, exhilarate, file, fillip, galvanize, grind, heat up, heighten, hone, hop up, hot up, increase, infuse life into, instrument, intensify, invigorate, irritate, jazz up, key up, machine, magnify, make acute, make complex, make sensitive, make worse, mechanize, mill, motorize, oilstone, pick up, pique, point, provoke, quicken, ramify, redouble, refine, reinforce, renew, reset, resuscitate, retool, revive, sensibilize, sensitize, set, sharp, soup up, sour, spiculate, spur, step up, stimulate, stir, strap, strengthen, stroke, strop, taper, tool, triple, whet, worsenROGET THESAURUS
sharpen
Excitation
VB excite, affect, touch, move, impress, strike, interest, animate, inspire, impassion, smite, infect, stir the blood, fire the blood, warm the blood, set astir, wake, awake, awaken, call forth, evoke, provoke, raise up, summon up, call up, wake up, blow up, get up, light up, raise, get up the steam, rouse, arouse, stir, fire, kindle, enkindle, apply the torch, set on fire, inflame, stimulate, exsuscitate, inspirit, spirit up, stir up, work up, pique, infuse life into, give new life to, bring new blood, introduce new blood, quicken, sharpen, whet, work upon, hurry on, give a fillip, put on one's mettle, fan the fire, fan the flame, blow the coals, stir the embers, fan into a flame, foster, heat, warm, foment, raise to a fever heat, keep up, keep the pot boiling, revive, rekindle, rake up, rip up, stir the feelings, play on the feelings, come home to the feelings, touch a string, touch a chord, touch the soul, touch the heart, go to one's heart, penetrate, pierce, go through one, touch to the quick, possess the soul, pervade the soul, penetrate the soul, imbrue the soul, absorb the soul, affect the soul, disturb the soul, absorb, rivet the attention, sink into the mind, sink into the heart, prey on the mind, distract, intoxicate, overwhelm, overpower, bouleverser, upset, turn one's head, fascinate, enrapture, agitate, perturb, ruffle, fluster, shake, disturb, startle, shock, stagger, give one a shock, give one a turn, strike all of a heap, stun, astound, electrify, galvanize, petrify, irritate, sting, cut to the heart, cut to the quick, try one's temper, fool to the top of one's bent, pique, infuriate, madden, make one's blood boil, lash into fury, be excited, flush up, flare up, catch the infection, thrill, mantle, work oneself up, seethe, boil, simmer, foam, fume, flame, rage, rave, run mad.Physical Energy
VB give energy, energize, stimulate, kindle, excite, exert, sharpen, intensify, inflame, wind up, strike home, into home, hard home, make an impression.Violence
VB be violent, run high, ferment, effervesce, romp, rampage, go on a rampage, run wild, run amuck, run riot, break the peace, rush, tear, rush headlong, rush foremost, raise a storm, make a riot, rough house, riot, storm, wreak, bear down, ride roughshod, out Herod, Herod, spread like wildfire (person), explode, make a row, kick up a row, boil, boil over, fume, foam, come on like a lion, bluster, rage, roar, fly off the handle, go bananas, go ape, blow one's top, blow one's cool, flip one's lid, hit the ceiling, hit the roof, fly into a rage (anger), break out, fly out, burst out, bounce, explode, go off, displode, fly, detonate, thunder, blow up, crump, flash, flare, burst, shock, strain, break open, force open, prize open, render violent, sharpen, stir up, quicken, excite, incite, annoy, urge, lash, stimulate, turn on, irritate, inflame, kindle, suscitate, foment, accelerate, aggravate, exasperate, exacerbate, convulse, infuriate, madden, lash into fury, fan the flame, add fuel to the flame, pour oil on the fire, oleum addere camino, explode, let fly, fly off, discharge, detonate, set off, detonize, fulminate.Sharpness
VB be sharp, taper to a point, bristle with, render sharp, sharpen, point, aculeate, whet, barb, spiculate, set, strop, grind, chip (flint), cut.Physical Sensibility
VB be sensible of, feel, perceive, render sensible, sharpen, cultivate, tutor, cause sensation, impress, excite an impression, produce an impression.For further exploring for "sharpen" in Webster Dictionary Online