as in cut
to cause to diminish gradually by or as if by cutting off bits with a knife
He was sitting on the porch, whittling a stick.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of whittled
According to the announcement, TDE Films whittled the pool of applicants to 25 finalists before identifying the five recipients whose work demonstrated distinct narrative voices, emotionally resonant characters and culturally meaningful perspectives.
—
Okla Jones, Essence, 23 Oct. 2025
Miami had been favored by 13 1/2 points but that whittled to 10 1/2 by kickoff, perhaps foretelling the close game as late gambling money flooded to the Cardinals.
—Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
The new departures, which have already been challenged in court, whittled the Education Department's staff by nearly a fifth, based on its most recent headcount estimates of full- and part-time employees.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
Mann eventually whittled it down to $170 million.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
The European Union, once a top Kremlin customer, has banned all seaborne imports of Russian crude oil, and whittled Moscow’s share of its natural gas imports delivered via pipeline to about 11% last year, from more than 40% in 2021.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
After ten weeks and 550 matches, the sixteen teams of the Premier League of MLP have been whittled to ten, the six Challenger teams are in Southern California, and the playoff schedules are out.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Okla Jones, Essence, 23 Oct. 2025
Miami had been favored by 13 1/2 points but that whittled to 10 1/2 by kickoff, perhaps foretelling the close game as late gambling money flooded to the Cardinals.
—Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
The new departures, which have already been challenged in court, whittled the Education Department's staff by nearly a fifth, based on its most recent headcount estimates of full- and part-time employees.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
Mann eventually whittled it down to $170 million.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
The European Union, once a top Kremlin customer, has banned all seaborne imports of Russian crude oil, and whittled Moscow’s share of its natural gas imports delivered via pipeline to about 11% last year, from more than 40% in 2021.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
After ten weeks and 550 matches, the sixteen teams of the Premier League of MLP have been whittled to ten, the six Challenger teams are in Southern California, and the playoff schedules are out.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittled
Verb
-
An emergency order by the FAA on Thursday said airlines have to cut traffic by 4%, resulting in about 800 flight cancellations for Friday that increased to over 1,000 throughout the day, according to FlightAware.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Southwest Airlines cut about 120 flights Friday.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Once Jeopardy's John Pork question was clipped for TikTok, users on the platform argued that the clue wasn't completely accurate, as John Pork appeared on social media as early as 2018, before generative AI was widely accessible.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Gausman allowed a solo home run to Dodgers catcher Will Smith, and two batters later, he got clipped by third baseman Max Muncy.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In Arizona, the governor can also require that the state flag be lowered at all state, institutional and educational buildings.—
Shelby Slade,
AZCentral.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
JPMorgan raised its price target on Walmart and lowered its PT on Target.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
At Goldman Sachs’ annual At the Helm event, the bank’s affluent clients dropped and did pushups for a Navy SEAL, unfurled their relationship with wealth guru Sahil Bloom, and strategized legacy with Mindy Kaling.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The loss dropped the Jayhawks to 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the Big 12.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Dan Rogers, vp and executive producer at the Opry, tells Billboard how the 20 album choices were pared down from the Opry 100 greatest songs list.—
Melinda Newman,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Her wavy, dark brunette hair was styled in a side part, while Queen Letizia’s makeup was pared back.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whittled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whittled. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share