whittle down
verb
whittled down; whittling down; whittles down
: to gradually make (something) smaller by removing parts
We whittled the list down to four people.
Examples of whittle down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Not much has changed as the screenings did not seem to whittle down the batch of pilots significantly, so testing results may help break some ties.
—
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 1 May 2026
The survivors, drifting on the open ocean, are then whittled down by hunger and thirst, by the varied dangers of the Pacific, and eventually by one another.
—Eva Holland, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2026
After training camp, the roster will be whittled down from 90 players to 53 players prior to the start of the season.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026
The interviews haven’t been conducted solely by Canucks president Jim Rutherford, either, and the decision on whittling down the list will likewise be collaborative.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
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Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 1 May 2026
The survivors, drifting on the open ocean, are then whittled down by hunger and thirst, by the varied dangers of the Pacific, and eventually by one another.
—Eva Holland, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2026
After training camp, the roster will be whittled down from 90 players to 53 players prior to the start of the season.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026
The interviews haven’t been conducted solely by Canucks president Jim Rutherford, either, and the decision on whittling down the list will likewise be collaborative.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whittle down
Cite this Entry
“Whittle down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whittle%20down. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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