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
  • The latest cash injection from Aramco will help fuel investment plans at a time when many of the PIF’s ambitions are being cut back, there’s a greater focus on getting funding from other investors, and returns are falling.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Texas and other states have cut back on the number and location of polling places, especially in areas favoring Democrats.
    — Jen Fifield, ProPublica, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of cut back
Verb
  • Indiana's governor turned down a clemency request Monday and said an execution planned for this week would go forward for a man who set a fire that killed his girlfriend's two children in 2010.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Fast-forward to Arjona’s campaign shoot, and the excitement hadn’t turned down a notch.
    — Vogue, Vogue, 2 Nov. 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 6 Nov. 2026.

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