as in culled
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winnowed
Verb
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The stairs are lined with a cognac-colored carpet, trimmed in nautical rope.—
Annabelle Dufraigne,
Architectural Digest,
31 Dec. 2024 -
But over time, the big airlines trimmed service at smaller airports.—
Niraj Chokshi,
New York Times,
25 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Both headphones are astonishingly quiet, virtually eliminating lower drone sounds, cutting higher frequency noises like key clicks, and even erasing piercing sounds like dogs barking with a bit of music.—
Ryan Waniata,
Wired News,
9 July 2025
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To pay for these initiatives, the law cuts Medicaid and food stamps — programs relied upon by poor households with children — by more than $1 trillion.—
MORIAH BALINGIT,
Chicago Tribune,
9 July 2025
Verb
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The stock rebounded Friday, but pared gains during the afternoon.—
Bloomberg,
The Mercury News,
17 Mar. 2025
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The design is fairly minimalist, with only a few pine sprigs, a furry blanket, and faux tea lights to create some ambiance; the wet room-style bathrooms are similarly pared-back.—
Nicole Trilivas,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The final amount could be affected by two factors — the number of claims and how much of the settlement fund is reduced to cover legal fees and costs.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Jan. 2025
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Liver damage can be reduced if the person stops drinking.—
George Petras,
USA TODAY,
3 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Winnowed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winnowed. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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