as in to cut down
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittle (down)
Verb
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June 18 is recognized as National Dump the Pump Day, an annual reminder to cut back on driving by taking public transit, carpooling, walking or biking when possible.
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Kilan Ashad-Bishop, a University of Miami assistant professor and the study’s lead investigator, said participants described relying more on air conditioning, cutting back on social activities and rescheduling appointments to avoid the hottest parts of the day.
Verb
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Pairing a floral sundress with a pair of white sneakers turns down the volume on the feminine formality, making the classic piece a bit less fussy.
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So far, Alvarez has turned down a couple of agreements struck by Atetlico with Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal because of this.
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“Whittle (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whittle%20%28down%29. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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