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 fest’s lineup of several dozen films is generally culled from other festivals, though a handful of films are making their world premieres in the Hamptons.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026
Still, Martin and other experts emphasized that old books are thrown away—and subsequently destroyed—all the time, even for non-academic reasons, by libraries that are simply culling their collections.

— Francesca Mancino, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of cull

Verb

People were fatally hit while hiking, kayaking, riding a Jet Ski, sitting on the beach, swimming, trimming trees and walking to their car, according to an incident chart on the National Lightning Safety Council website.

— Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Airlines responded to these higher fuel costs by raising fare, trimming less-profitable flights and rethinking growth plans.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of trim

Verb

North Carolina Democrats in the state’s House of Representatives cut all ties with one of their candidates running for the state legislature after her past social media posts about violence against Republicans came to light.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2026
Krohn put in new sprinklers and fire-safety systems after his last renters moved out a few years ago, then cut a hole between the second and third floors, allowing more light and air to filter through what is now a unified owner’s duplex.

— Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of cut

Verb

Oil prices pared some gains midday before resuming their climb in the afternoon.

— John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
Four finalists will be pared to one or two winning teams and will be recognized during the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in October in Bangkok.

— Fatima Hussein, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of pare

Verb

Because no human can sift through thousands of XRD patterns a day, the company is developing machine learning algorithms to use XRD and measure the magnetic properties of materials to speed detection of new superconductors.

— Alan Patterson, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of sift

Verb

Its compact permanent magnet motor enables a smaller pod diameter, reducing hydrodynamic drag while maintaining high propulsion performance.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
Advanced transmission technologies can reduce those losses and increase existing network capacity without requiring entirely new lines.

— Nana Menya Ayensu, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of reduce

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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 13 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of winnow

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