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whittle (down)

verb

Definition of whittle (down)next
as in to cut down

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittle (down)
  1. cut down
  2. cut back
  3. turn down
Verb
  • If the war does indeed come to an end and oil keeps falling, Warsh might get breathing room for rate cuts down the line.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 16 June 2026
  • Courtesy of the Abu Haikal family Haikal said his family’s own homes have been targeted in settler attacks, including having stones thrown at their home, their crops destroyed, trees cut down and property stolen.
    — Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 16 June 2026
Definition of cut down
Verb
  • To afford the next trip, 52% said eating out less would be worth it, while 40% were willing to cut back on haircuts.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • And, more locally, Shawnee Mission’s Schools Beyond Screens group played a crucial role in the district taking steps to cut back on technology use in classrooms in July.
    — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of cut back
Verb
  • Sand, ever intentional, turned down Harvard Law School in favor of the University of Iowa and spent seven years as a state prosecutor.
    — Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • AstraZeneca had also turned down the family's request for a donation of the drug.
    — Arthur Allen, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of turn down
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.

Browse Nearby Words

whittled (down)
whittle (down)
whittles
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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 25 Sep. 2026.

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