WINNOWING Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

winnowing

verb

present participle of winnow

as in culling

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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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 winnowing 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 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 Iowa’s legislative funnel deadline has done its job again, winnowing the list of bills that still could become laws this year. — Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 20 Mar. 2026 The club is winnowing down its pitching options. — Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026 Is the only pleasure in her winnowing life to be denied? — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2026 All that standing and walking and winnowing down culminated with Tuesday night’s best in show event. — Poupay Jutharat, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2026 The fewer skiing trails and snow resorts that exist around the world, the more expensive and inaccessible these sports will become, winnowing the potential pool of future Olympians further. — Laura Millan, Bloomberg, 4 Feb. 2026 As in baseball, the awards race may be winnowing to the two true outcomes — a world where Best Picture nominees are either a huge Hollywood blockbuster or a foreign-language film from Cannes. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for winnowing

Verb

That situation makes the roster culling an emotional topic for those whose list status has been questioned.

— Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026
The country does currently have a shark culling program, but some are calling for the program’s expansion in light of recent attacks.

— Devika Rao, TheWeek, 14 July 2026

Definition of culling

Verb

Three-year programs typically work by reducing the credit requirement from 120 down to 90 or 100, largely by trimming general education requirements, open electives, and the room for a double major or a semester abroad.

— Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
And trimming too much of this plant can make the tree appear stunted or uneven.

— Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 July 2026

Definition of trimming

Verb

Seattle kept it close, cutting the lead to single digits in the fourth quarter before Atlanta held firm.

— Christopher Harris, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
The workshops include all ingredients and participants learn skills such as cutting and folding meats, placement and spacing for jams and honeys.

— Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026

Definition of cutting

Verb

Following numerous noise complaints, the town is requiring players to use a new noise-reducing ball that is far more expensive than a regular ball.

— Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 31 July 2026
The company, which generated approximately $10 billion in revenue in 2025, is increasingly embedding AI across its equipment, digital platforms and dealer network to help farmers improve yields while reducing costs.

— Peter High, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of reducing

Verb

But the necessity of paring down such a massive event has the effect of flattening the very elements that ought to give it its texture and heft — namely, the people involved.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
Cracker Barrel shares fell 6% on the news before paring some of those losses.

— Phil Wahba, Fortune, 30 July 2026

Definition of paring

Browse Nearby Words

winnowed (out)

winnowing

winnows

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“Winnowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winnowing. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of winnowing

verb

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