whittled (down)

verb

past tense of whittle (down)
as in cut down

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittled (down)
  1. cut down
  2. cut back
  3. turned down
  4. knocked 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
  • Some perennials should be cut back in the fall to reduce pests and diseases like powdery mildew (and to keep your beds looking tidy).
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The Italian company has seen its US business grow consecutively for the past five years by heavily promoting Aperol and Campari, popularizing the spritz to Americans cutting back on drinking as a lighter alternative to booze-heavy cocktails.
    — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of cut back
Verb
  • According to the Sunday Times, the Prince of Wales has turned down the requests, in part to avoid a new source of conflict with his brother, Prince Harry, who recently moved with his family back to the UK.
    — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Jennifer Garner turned down a role in Ben Affleck’s latest film.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of turned down
Verb
  • When the flames were knocked down, firefighters determined no one was injured, King said.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Brock Bowers is likely out of this game still, so the passing game gets knocked down a bit.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of knocked 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.

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Cite this Entry

“Whittled (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whittled%20%28down%29. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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