whittled (down)

Definition of whittled (down)next
past tense of whittle (down)
See the Dictionary Definition 

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittled (down)
Verb
  • So the big question really is, how much do these higher costs including groceries, airfare, how much does that force households to ultimately cut back?
    ABC News, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
  • High school coaches cut back on mileage and intensity in response to charges that runners were burning out in their teens.
    Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Plus, Superjumbo has been holding back on things like listening parties and has turned down artists that wanted to do in-store performances because of the limited space, according to Mancuso.
    R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
  • The deal Hackling turned down would have required a guilty plea and included a 30-year prison sentence, suspended after service of 15 years, and five years of probation.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • That could allow time to consider alternatives for rehab before a building is knocked down for good.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
  • And if Evan Mobley, who has struggled to shoot all year long, hadn’t knocked down all three of his 3s in the second half, perhaps that ferocity would have been enough.
    Eric Koreen, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
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

Cite this Entry

“Whittled (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whittled%20%28down%29. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster