as in to cut
to cause to diminish gradually by or as if by cutting off bits with a knife
He was sitting on the porch, whittling a stick.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of whittle
Leaders have reinforced that narrative by whittling their workforces in the name of AI.
—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
Specifically, retinol smooths fine lines, lessens wrinkle depth, and whittles the appearance of large pores.
—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
In a normal year, casting director Jesse Tannenbaum and his team sift through 25,000 applications, per Backstage, whittling them down to just 18 players per season.
—
Charlotte Walsh,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
While previous seasons of South Park have comprised between 10 to 15 episodes, and sometimes more, in recent years, Parker and Stone have whittled the number down to about five or six.
—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for whittle
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
Specifically, retinol smooths fine lines, lessens wrinkle depth, and whittles the appearance of large pores.
—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
In a normal year, casting director Jesse Tannenbaum and his team sift through 25,000 applications, per Backstage, whittling them down to just 18 players per season.
—
Charlotte Walsh,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
While previous seasons of South Park have comprised between 10 to 15 episodes, and sometimes more, in recent years, Parker and Stone have whittled the number down to about five or six.
—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for whittle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittle
Verb
-
Kirkmeyer has campaigned on affordability and safety issues, Bottoms is pushing for a redo of the state's education system among other things and Marx wants to cut regulations and lower the cost of living.
-
Terrell Carstens, a 25-year resident of Brookhaven, said she is frustrated the city made little effort to find places to cut costs instead of raising the rate.
Verb
-
Pinch-hitter Jose Tabata fouled off a pair of 2-2 pitches before Scherzer clipped him on the elbow with a breaking ball.
-
At least some of Mahajan's family managed to jump out safely, but Mahajan was still inside when the carriage clipped another horse carriage and overturned.
Verb
-
Of course, when an outfit is pared back, accessories are even more important.
-
On Monday, the 2-year yield touched its highest level since February 2025 before paring losses slightly.
Verb
-
Following a new 10-year apparel agreement that was announced in October, the first batch of the new swag dropped Friday at the campus Barnes & Noble.
-
Phillies starter Zack Wheeler dominated — with help from center fielder Derek Hill, whose jaw-dropping catch robbed Juan Soto of a home run — to spoil interim manager Andy Green’s in-dugout Mets debut.
Verb
-
In Italy, the health ministry issued its highest level alert for 15 cities and authorities took measures to curtail work.
-
Developing countries in southeast Asia, and emerging markets like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, are having their LNG supplies curtailed by the Iran war.
Cite this Entry
“Whittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whittle. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
