whittle down

verb

whittled down; whittling down; whittles down
Synonyms of whittle downnext
: to gradually make (something) smaller by removing parts
We whittled the list down to four people.

Examples of whittle down in a Sentence

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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.
The 2026 free-agent class has been whittled down by stars signing extensions with their current teams. — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 22 June 2026 Ultimately, the agency whittled down its deficit to $66 million. — Jillian Taylor, StateImpact, 30 June 2026 Other archaeologists remain unconvinced that the woman’s brain had been removed or that the long bones had been deliberately whittled down into tools. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 June 2026 With the World Cup whittling down from 48 teams to 32 teams after an exciting group stage slate, the first two knockout round matches in Arlington are set. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for whittle down

Rhymes for whittle down

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Browse Nearby Words

whittle away
whittle down
whittler
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Cite this Entry

“Whittle down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whittle%20down. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on whittle down

Nglish: Translation of whittle down for Spanish Speakers

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