WINNOW Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

winnow

verb

Definition of winnow

as in to cull

to remove less desirable choices from a group or list They winnowed the pool of applicants down to a few of the strongest candidates. I tried to winnow out the options that weren't a good value for the price.

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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 winnow The number of options could initially stretch into the billions as the league winnowed down the choices. — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 28 July 2026 The board winnowed down its list from six semifinalists to two in a vote at a special meeting held Tuesday. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026 But for three contests — Assembly District 67, Assembly District 68 and Assembly District 72 — the June 2 primary was needed to winnow the field. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 7 July 2026 The first knockout round continues through Friday night, when the field will be winnowed to 16 teams. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for winnow

Recent Examples of Synonyms for winnow

Verb

The past five years were a culling season of sorts for the Prada Group.

— Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
When ranchers can’t afford to keep feeding animals through a drought, they’re forced to cull early, including breeding cows that would otherwise produce next year’s calf crop.

— Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of cull

Verb

Lopez tossed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Hernandez to cut Miami’s lead to 11 points.

— Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
The decline raises the prospect of an interest rate cut by the central bank at next week’s monetary policy committee meeting, the penultimate one for this year.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of cut

Verb

This might be fine for a night or two to diagnose a sleep disorder, but gathering enough data on enough people to sift out long-term statistical correlations just isn’t feasible.

— Mike McRae September 17, New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2026
There’s a lot to sift through, and knowing which pieces are actually worth your cart takes some finesse.

— Annie Blackman, InStyle, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of sift

Verb

Because the coating is already on the coil, manufacturers may be able to reduce reliance on external lubrication and additional e-coating processes.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
The goal, advocates say, was to get individuals struggling with addiction treatment while reducing overcrowding inside state prisons.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

Its two outer booster engines were discarded during flight, while the central sustainer continued operating and later helped the converted Atlas launch John Glenn into orbit.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
Any Weather Mac is designed to be sustainable from how it’s made to how it’s discarded, with the company taking steps to make sure the product won’t end up in a landfill.

— Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of discard

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winnings

winnow

winnowed

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“Winnow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winnow. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of winnow

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