whittle (down)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittle (down)
Verb
  • While an investigation is underway, police estimated during a press conference on Wednesday that the number of trees cut down was 11, according to KNBC.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Some employees had been furloughed to cut down on costs, and Outside had developed a reputation for not paying freelancers in a timely manner.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • During one session at Palace’s training ground in Beckenham, a young attacker took the ball down the flank, beat his man and cut back in-field to do so again.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The uncertainty of tariffs and growing recession fears could also weigh on McDonald's sales, if consumers cut back on their Big Macs and McNuggets.
    Gabrielle Fonrouge,Annika Kim Constantino,Leslie Josephs,Ari Levy,Amelia Lucas,Melissa Repko,Hugh Son,Michael Wayland, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Already, De Bruyne has been linked to both Inter Miami and the Chicago Fire, while Mueller has reportedly already turned down a free transfer offer from FC Cincinnati.
    Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Much of the press about the film’s money-making potential, meanwhile, seemed intent on turning down the volume, taking what should be one of the year’s biggest cinematic success stories and focusing on the potential for failure instead of its concrete achievement thus far.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Whittle (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whittle%20%28down%29. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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