whittling (down)

verb

Definition of whittling (down)next
present participle of whittle (down)
as in cutting down

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittling (down)
  1. cutting back
  2. turning down
  3. knocking down
Verb
  • After cutting back foliage and cleaning the bulbs, cure them by air-drying them in a warm, dry spot.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Karen Fernandez, lead esthetician at SkinSpirit, told Byrdie the theory is to let skin rebuild its protective stratum corneum layer, and that cutting back can also help identify products causing irritation or breakouts.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of cutting back
Verb
  • By the late 1970s, the architect Norman Jaffe was turning down nine out of ten potential clients.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 3 Nov. 2026
  • After 12 years, three standalone movies and a holiday special, Amanda Seyfried appears to have no regrets turning down a Guardians of the Galaxy lead role.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of turning down
Verb
  • The Minutemen went on a 14-4 run powered by Wembley as the sophomore forward scored eight of his 15 points during the stretch, including knocking down a corner 3-pointer to give UMass a 14-6 lead.
    — Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Last week, Ukraine ran out of Patriot interceptors – one of the few defensive weapons capable of knocking down a ballistic missile – leaving it far more vulnerable to Russian attacks.
    — Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of knocking 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.

Browse Nearby Words

whittling
whittling (down)
whiz
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Cite this Entry

“Whittling (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whittling%20%28down%29. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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