Synonyms of winnow

winnow

verb

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.

Related Words

• cull
• pare
• trim
• cut
• reduce
• sift
• discard
• jettison
• filter
• slash
• reject
• refuse
• condense
• shorten
• throw away
• prune
• crop
• spurn
• truncate
• shrink
• curtail
• throw out
• turn down
• retrench
• cut down
• repudiate
• abridge
• cut back
• compress
• downsize
• negative
• decrease
• deplete
• decline
• dock
• lessen
• disapprove
• dwindle
• abbreviate
• minimize
• whittle (down)
• ease
• dent
• clip
• abate
• clear
• constrict
• nick
• lower
• knock down
• modulate
• modify
• downscale
• drop
• moderate
• qualify
• distill
• refine
• deflate
• sieve
• purify
• contract
• fine
• process
• de-escalate
• clarify
• screen
• rectify
• bolt
• garble

Dissimilar Words

• select
• pick
• choose
• take
• cull
• elect
• prefer
• set
• appoint
• name
• nominate
• designate
• adopt
• tap
• accept
• single (out)
• opt (for)
• tag
• handpick
• tab
• mark
• fix
• embrace
• preselect
• cherry-pick
• settle (on or upon)
• espouse
• swell
• inflate
• extend
• dilate
• blow up
• add (to)
• prolong
• lengthen
• elongate
• complement
• supplement
• enhance
• intensify
• increase
• expand
• heighten
• augment
• raise
• distend
• amplify
• enlarge
• protract
• redouble
• boost
• escalate
• aggrandize

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of winnow

With 21 applicants to choose from, the Miami-Dade School Board kicked off the process of winnowing down that field to select a new superintendent at a special meeting Wednesday. — Austin Horn june 25, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026

The council winnowed that list down to five finalists who interviewed for the post last week ahead of Monday’s vote. — Mary Ramsey updated June 22, Charlotte Observer, 23 June 2026

Even in the face of Comcast’s subscriber-winnowing move to shift NESN to its pricier service tier, the network’s ratings continue to grow. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 12 June 2026

Through it all, Democrats showed no collective ability to recruit other, better contenders into the race, winnow the field, or even produce one or two candidates that voters were genuinely excited about. — Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!