whittling (down)

Definition of whittling (down)next
present participle of whittle (down)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittling (down)
Verb
  • But now, customers are cutting back.
    Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
  • One option is to remove all the dead, cutting back into the body of the fern.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Some also favor turning down the heat and simmering eggs.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • But after turning down the 30-year payout, the winnings dropped to $57 million before taxes.
    Dave Lieber, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Big man Neemias Queta even got in on the action for Boston, knocking down his first career 3 to go along with 10 rebounds.
    CBS News, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Acknowledgment can also feel like the bare minimum, but the fight for it grows increasingly urgent when the American President is knocking down public memorials of slavery like tin ducks in a carnival shooting game.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
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

Cite this Entry

“Whittling (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whittling%20%28down%29. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster