as in to cut
to cause to diminish gradually by or as if by cutting off bits with a knife
He was sitting on the porch, whittling a stick.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whittle
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
Wilkerson then took over and trimmed it down to a traditional chevron mustache, before eventually whittling his facial hair completely away for a clean-shaven look.
—Gil MacIas, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Those are just some of the frivolous expenses that actor Al Pacino details in his new memoir, Sonny Boy, expenditures that eventually whittled his fortune down from $50 million to nothing.
—Sharon Olson, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for whittle
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
Wilkerson then took over and trimmed it down to a traditional chevron mustache, before eventually whittling his facial hair completely away for a clean-shaven look.
—Gil MacIas, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Those are just some of the frivolous expenses that actor Al Pacino details in his new memoir, Sonny Boy, expenditures that eventually whittled his fortune down from $50 million to nothing.
—Sharon Olson, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for whittle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittle
Verb
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The University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Southern California have also paused or cut their graduate admissions, at least temporarily.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
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Today, Meaghan Garvey offers an ontological bonus cut from her time in Sweden with King Nothingg.—
Meaghan Garvey,
Pitchfork,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Just clip them in, style them as needed, and voilà—instant cool-girl bangs with zero regrets.—
Allure,
Allure,
24 Feb. 2025
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When a truck carrying Mr. Nasrallah’s coffin entered the stadium, the crowd erupted in shrieks and cries as the voice of the former Hezbollah leader — clipped from his speeches — echoed from speakers.—
Christina Goldbaum,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The tech-heavy index briefly reached a 10% decline from its most recent closing high, which is what the market considers a correction, but gains for Nvidia, Microsoft and other tech heavyweights helped pare those losses.—
Alex Veiga,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
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The Stoxx 600 provisionally closed 0.51% lower, paring earlier losses, as autos shed 4%.—
Jenni Reid,Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Heat is one-half game ahead of the eighth-place Magic, but dropped five games behind the sixth-place Detroit Pistons (34-27) for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference that doesn’t require having to go through play-in.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
3 Mar. 2025
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Gomez completed the look with a peachy nude lip and a wavy bob, as well as a dazzling diamond choker and drop earrings.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The government's 2024 request also sought to have Google's investment in AI firms curtailed even though this isn't directly related to search.—
Ryan Whitwam,
Ars Technica,
5 Mar. 2025
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On Tuesday at 12:01 a.m., Trump officially imposed duties of 25 percent on both Mexico and Canada, despite attempts from the countries’ respective leaders fighting to curtail such an action.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whittle. Accessed 8 Mar. 2025.
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