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

This year’s feature lineup was culled from nearly 2,000 entries, winnowed over seven months to just a few dozen features, shorts, and other programming.

— David Bloom, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
The agency has dealt with homeowners illegally culling trees to improve their views in the past, but those are dwarfed by the scale of these poisonings, Cowen said.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of cull

Verb

Consequently, markets have already trimmed their Fed rate hike expectations.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Drapery panels in Jim Thompson’s Choisya, trimmed in Samuel & Sons, frame the couple’s vintage breakfront, which keeps Khouri’s Royal Crown Derby china within reach.

— Caroline Randall Williams, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of trim

Verb

The threat of shortages pushed countries across Asia to impose export bans, cut import duties, and start rationing fuel to maintain supplies.

— Katie Silver, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Unlike the heavy smoky eyes and cut creases of the 2010s, this trend is throwing it back to the 1990s when smoky eyes were more minimalist.

— Elle Turner, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of cut

Verb

Quiet luxury has also taken a more casual turn this summer, thanks in no small part to recent looks sported by the likes of Meghan Markle and Cate Blanchett, who have shown how the aesthetic can be pared back and even playful.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
After three decades, CBO found that the average annual per-person income would be $9,000 lower, or reduced by 10%, if government debt continued to grow instead of being pared down.

— Medora Lee, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of pare

Verb

Four months later, he was seen last weekend walking dogs, taking walks, enjoying a cup of coffee in a garage, and even stopping to sift through neighborhood trash items on the side of the street.

— Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
With too few people and too little time to sift through it all, METR used AI itself to analyze its findings, burning the equivalent of $400,000 in API credits supplied by OpenAI during their six on-site days.

— Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of sift

Verb

Its movements and squeaks change in response to the person interacting with it, giving caregivers another way to reduce distress and encourage engagement.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
For instance, a creditor might bid $35,000 for a $50,000 SUV, reducing the judgment by that amount, then sell it for $50,000, pocketing $15,000.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of reduce

Browse Nearby Words

winnings

winnow

winnowed

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“Winnow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winnow. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of winnow

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