whittles

verb

present tense third-person singular of whittle
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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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 whittles Specifically, retinol smooths fine lines, lessens wrinkle depth, and whittles the appearance of large pores. — Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 29 May 2026 Throughout the regular season, the league evaluates those 70 people and whittles the larger list down to the top 40 (20 referees paired with 20 linespeople). — Sean Gentille, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittles
  1. cuts
  2. clips
  3. lowers
  4. pares
  5. drops
  6. curtails
  7. shortens
Verb
  • The video cuts to flashback of similar experiences in which Swift, his then-companion, reacted more angrily to his infractions.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The video cuts to Swift living out exactly what Johnson’s been living through, revealing that Farrell poisoned Swift, leading to her death.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of cuts
Verb
  • All of my essentials are packed in my Stowaway, which clips into my weekender as a bag organizer, and can clip out to be worn on its own as a crossbody when walking around during the day or as a clutch when going out in the evening.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 16 July 2026
  • This compact tote folds into a small pouch that clips directly onto your keys and expands into a functional bag when needed.
    — Corein Carter, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
Definition of clips
Verb
  • Performing instrumental passages, the singer often lowers his head so much that his forehead nearly touches the piano keys.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Disrupting plaque all day, not just morning and night, lowers the inflammatory load dentists tie to systemic disease.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of lowers
Verb
  • Her music accordingly pares down the signature elements of a genre in which reckless abandon and defiant self-expression have long been central.
    — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026
  • In its fifth and final season, The Bear pares itself back.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of pares
Verb
  • Catch season eight of All American on The CW app or watch all eight seasons on Netflix when the final season drops October 6.
    — Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Hilton credited red-light therapy with extending the life of her Chihuahua, Tinkerbell, to 25 years, a claim that helped launch the current pet trend and a wave of new product drops.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of drops
Verb
  • Inspired by Soviet dissidents who secretly circulated writing, the sessions encourage participants to reclaim private expression in an era of political turmoil, data mining and government pressure that curtails public expression.
    — Miranda Huang, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Eventually this cuts off the food supply to the black hole and curtails its growth.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of curtails
Verb
  • Hot water can cause shrinking, fraying, and pilling, which shortens the lifespan of your towels.
    — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026
  • If a stage is a tenth of the path, then even cutting it to zero shortens the path by a tenth at most.
    — Illia Smoliienko, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of shortens

Browse Nearby Words

whittle (down)
whittles
whittles (down)
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Cite this Entry

“Whittles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whittles. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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