whittle down
phrasal verb
whittled down; whittling down; whittles down
: to gradually make (something) smaller by removing parts
We whittled the list down to four people.
Examples of whittle down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Daniel Webster, his secretary of state, had bragged about whittling down the speech, or at least removing numerous references to ancient Roman statesmen.
—
Michael Bartiromo, The Hill, 19 Jan. 2025
The most immediate challenge facing Republicans is whittling down their list and working with the White House to determine which rules Trump can undo with executive orders.
—Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Jan. 2025
The number in the castle was therefore whittled down to the standard 22, with three then selected as traitors by host Claudia Winkleman.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2025
Yet in less than two years, that island has been whittled down by the sea to barely a dot — not much remains in the third photograph, dating to the end of 2024.
—Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 18 Jan. 2025
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Michael Bartiromo, The Hill, 19 Jan. 2025
The most immediate challenge facing Republicans is whittling down their list and working with the White House to determine which rules Trump can undo with executive orders.
—Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Jan. 2025
The number in the castle was therefore whittled down to the standard 22, with three then selected as traitors by host Claudia Winkleman.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2025
Yet in less than two years, that island has been whittled down by the sea to barely a dot — not much remains in the third photograph, dating to the end of 2024.
—Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for whittle down
Dictionary Entries Near whittle down
Cite this Entry
“Whittle down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whittle%20down. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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