as in to cut down
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittle (down)
Verb
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NiCE takes over scheduling Workers say LanguageLine has cut back the hours of its interpreters before but in 2025, something changed and their schedules became more fragmented.—
Huo Jingnan,
NPR,
3 May 2026 -
Again, 44 percent cut back on driving, 42 percent cut household expenses, 34 percent changed vacation plans.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 May 2026
Verb
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The younger brother had turned down a plea deal in 2023 from the state’s attorney to serve 25 years behind bars for the charge of accessory to murder.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
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The board turned down the move to conduct its own investigation, reasoning there’s no need for it because top state education officials are already handling it.—
Natalie La Roche Pietri,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
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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 4 May. 2026.
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