whittle (down)

verb

Definition of whittle (down)next
as in to cut down

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittle (down)
  1. cut back
  2. turn down
Verb
  • In fact, cutting back during extreme heat reduces waste buildup and oxygen demands.
    — Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026
  • Use hand pruners or loppers to cut back as much of the top growth as possible.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026
Definition of cut back
Verb
  • Twenty years ago, European broadcasters desperate to scale — to get big or die — got turned down by regulators not yet convinced this new-fangled internet was all that.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026
  • The local Paiute tribes, expert with horses, have offered their services but were turned down.
    — Steve Searles, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
Definition of turn down
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.

Browse Nearby Words

whittled (down)
whittle (down)
whittles
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Cite this Entry

“Whittle (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whittle%20%28down%29. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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