sharpens

Verb

sharpen (third-person singular simple present sharpens, present participle sharpening, simple past and past participle sharpened)

1. (figuratively, sometimes, transitive) To make sharp.
   • to sharpen a pencil or a knife or a musical note
2. (intransitive) To become sharp.
   • 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.1990 February 4, Jennie McKnight, “Peruvian Politics Threaten Encuentro”, in Gay Community News, volume 17, number 29, page 2