as in cuts
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.
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Recent Examples of whittles
Typically, Cameron whittles his selections for each part down to five or six actors based on recommendations and audition tapes, and not only meets with them but tries to create some of the circumstances that will be replicated on set.
—
Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 22 Dec. 2025
Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 22 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittles
Verb
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Aside from the 43rd president’s penchant for surfacing mostly for official events — joking in an affectionate and hilarious manner with Michelle Obama — Bush’s taciturn post-presidency cuts a striking contrast with the two men who bracketed his tenure.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
22 Feb. 2026
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The full effects of DOGE cuts to tens of thousands of federal contracts and agreements may never be fully known, experts say, and controversy lingers.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The holder clips right to your pack or waders and keeps everything in a neat, easy-to-dispense stack.—
Francesca Krempa,
Outside,
23 Dec. 2025
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The carry handles each have a magnetic piece that then clips together to form a single bar to grasp.—
Adam Campbell-Schmitt,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Locksmiths, tattoo artists and pedicab drivers are among those who could benefit from a new deduction this tax season that lowers the burden on workers who received tips as part of their income last year.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
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This change often lowers your self-esteem.—
Emrah Cinik,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Marvel Avengers Expansion Impressions The biggest strength of the Marvel Multiverse Role Playing Game expansions continues to be succinct writing that pares down decades of comic book history into a short but informative chapter.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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This is a sweet, redemptive film that pares back some of the more extreme dramatic elements of Perry’s earlier work to tell a straightforward, second-chance-at-love story.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Continue reading … FOLLOW THE MONEY — Hunter Biden's former 'sugar brother' lawyer drops major cash on Swalwell's campaign.—
,
FOXNews.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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If a colleague drops a project on your desk, ask for a deadline and confirm what success looks like before accepting.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Advertisement The court's decision not only curtails a policy Trump has repeatedly credited with strengthening American leverage abroad, but also carries major financial and legal consequences.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
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Think of this as the pessimistic, narrower option, where the greenhouse effect curtails the zone's inner edge and the loss of carbon dioxide from a planetary atmosphere marks its outer edge.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One bill requires legislative approval for major agency rules and shortens gubernatorial appointee terms to four years.—
Marissa Payne,
Des Moines Register,
17 Feb. 2026
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This kind of careful pruning is superior to topping, which results in weak and spindly growth and shortens a tree's lifespan.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This abundance reduces material costs and supply chain risks.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
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Removing whey from yogurt reduces the amount of carbs and sugar and concentrates more protein per ounce as a result.—
Kristen Gasnick,
Verywell Health,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whittles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whittles. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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