Synonyms of whittle

whittle

verb

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

• cut
• clip
• pare
• drop
• curtail
• shorten
• reduce
• retrench
• prune
• abridge
• truncate
• cut down
• trim
• lessen
• slash
• deplete
• dwindle
• cut back
• abbreviate
• decrease
• nick
• condense
• dent
• dock
• downsize
• crop
• constrict
• lower
• compress
• ease
• abate
• shrink
• knock down
• minimize
• downscale
• contract
• deflate
• de-escalate
• modify
• modulate
• moderate
• qualify

Dissimilar Words

• extend
• inflate
• swell
• prolong
• lengthen
• dilate
• add (to)
• elongate
• supplement
• complement
• blow up
• enhance
• increase
• distend
• intensify
• heighten
• expand
• protract
• augment
• enlarge
• raise
• amplify
• boost
• escalate
• redouble
• aggrandize

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of whittle

This man is whittling a star for the tree and standing up for eldest daughters everywhere? — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026

The Los Angeles mayor is a nonpartisan position, meaning the June 2 primary was not separated by party and simply whittled the pool down to the top two candidates. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026

The market is trying to recover, but elite collectors seemingly want only trophy works; raging global conflicts, economic uncertainty, and political turmoil have whittled demand down to the safest names. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 24 June 2026

Next, your votes whittled the field of contenders to the Top 10 picks, then down to the Top 5 and Top 2. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2026