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
  • On a read-option play, Colandrea kept the ball, picked up the first down, cut back upfield and turned the corner for Nebraska's second touchdown of the game, extending its lead to 17-6.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • When the film next cuts back to this room, Sri explains that this is the root of her decision to leave and work in Saudi Arabia.
    — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of cut back
Verb
  • Nobody’s retiring off a Fantasy 5 drawing, but nobody would turn down the $56,615 won by each of the players who chose 3, 11, 14, 19 and 31.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Even at the lower figure, that’s about double the $2 million his mom turned down.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 9 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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