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.
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Recent Examples of whittle
Cocurators Marcela Guerrero and Drew Sawyer drew up a list of well over 400 creatives, made studio visits to upwards of 300, and whittled the tally down to 56 individuals, duos, and collectives.
—
Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2026
Earlier this month, the department whittled the list down to 30 finalists.
—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Since then, there have been fall 1996 Gianni Versace Couture gowns at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards and a waist-whittling custom Ashi Studio creation for the 2026 Golden Globes.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2026
Further investigation with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) whittled these galaxies down to 70 faint dusty galaxy candidates on the very edge of the cosmos, the majority of which had never been seen before.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whittle
Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2026
Earlier this month, the department whittled the list down to 30 finalists.
—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Since then, there have been fall 1996 Gianni Versace Couture gowns at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards and a waist-whittling custom Ashi Studio creation for the 2026 Golden Globes.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2026
Further investigation with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) whittled these galaxies down to 70 faint dusty galaxy candidates on the very edge of the cosmos, the majority of which had never been seen before.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whittle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittle
Verb
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The fear, Webster said, can make young athletes avoid sport-specific movements like cutting or jumping even after physical clearance.—
Ian McMahan,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
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Worries have gotten so high that traders have canceled nearly all their bets that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates this year, according to data from CME Group.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Look in magazines for terms related to Easter or springtime and clip them out (or customize an egg for each family member, choosing words to describe personalities and interests).—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
14 Mar. 2026
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The windows also include screens, weatherproof outside panels, and inflatable interior blackout panels that fold up and clip to the ceiling when not in use, doubling as overhead shelves.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Lawmakers pared back the idea through the amendment process in February, citing concerns that the original language would swell state spending, box out private pest control companies and create an unfunded mandate to counties, which historically handle pests that threaten farms and infrastructure.—
Mark Dee
March 17,
Idaho Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
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But Maker Studios’ business was steadily pared back, as the model failed to have legs.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 443 points, or 1%, and the Nasdaq composite tumbled 2%.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
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The junior Cyclone can drop post dimes against double coverage, too.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The consumer protection agencies most equipped to fight fraud, such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, whose budget was nearly halved, have seen massive funding and staff cuts, curtailing their ability to enforce rules and actively target scammers.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
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Traffic through the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil output normally flows, has been severely curtailed since the start of the latest Middle East conflict two weeks ago.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whittle. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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