whit·tle
ˈ(h)wi-tᵊl 
whittled; whittling
ˈ(h)wi-tᵊl-iŋ
ˈ(h)wit-liŋ
1
a
: to pare or cut off chips from the surface of (wood) with a knife
b
: to shape or form by so paring or cutting
2
: to reduce, remove, or destroy gradually as if by cutting off bits with a knife : pare
whittle down expenses
1
: to cut or shape something (such as wood) by or as if by paring it with a knife
2
: to wear oneself or another out with fretting
archaic
: a large knife
Examples of whittle in a Sentence
Verb
He was sitting on the porch, whittling a stick.
She whittled a walking stick from a maple tree branch.
Recent Examples on the Web
CBS News, 9 Feb. 2025
The Oscars shortlists are created through a preliminary voting process where all eligible films are voted on via secret ballots to whittle them down to shortlists of 10 or 15 films for each category.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
After whittling her options down to two final contestants, Chock Chapple and Guy Gansert, the private school administrator gave her last rose to Chapple during Wednesday's episode.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024
Longstanding shows hosted by Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel have been whittled to four weekly tapings amid declining viewership.
—Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for whittle 
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Verb
And even just trying to whittle this down to exactly what to ask you was hard because there has been so much happening.
—CBS News, 9 Feb. 2025
The Oscars shortlists are created through a preliminary voting process where all eligible films are voted on via secret ballots to whittle them down to shortlists of 10 or 15 films for each category.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
After whittling her options down to two final contestants, Chock Chapple and Guy Gansert, the private school administrator gave her last rose to Chapple during Wednesday's episode.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024
Longstanding shows hosted by Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel have been whittled to four weekly tapings amid declining viewership.
—Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for whittle
Dictionary Entries Near whittle
Cite this Entry
“Whittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whittle. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.
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