as in to cut down
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittle (down)
Verb
-
Her floor-length Vivienne Westwood Couture gown featured off-the-shoulder straps and a V-cut back with a sculptural skirt that flared from the waist down to the floor.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026 -
Woody plants that bloom on old wood should not be cut back in the fall.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Dante Moore, the quarterback for the University of Oregon Ducks, plans to play another year of college football—turning down an eight-figure salary as a result.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
15 Jan. 2026
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Don't be so quick to turn down that dark wood chest your mother or grandmother is offering you.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
15 Jan. 2026
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“Whittle (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whittle%20%28down%29. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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