Synonyms of whittle

whittle

verb

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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cut
• clip
• pare
• drop
• curtail
• shorten
• reduce
• retrench
• trim
• prune
• abridge
• truncate
• cut down
• slash
• lessen
• deplete
• dwindle
• cut back
• decrease
• abbreviate
• nick
• condense
• dent
• dock
• downsize
• crop
• constrict
• lower
• compress
• ease
• abate
• shrink
• knock down
• minimize
• downscale
• contract
• deflate
• de-escalate
• modify
• modulate
• moderate
• qualify

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extend
• inflate
• swell
• prolong
• lengthen
• dilate
• add (to)
• elongate
• supplement
• complement
• blow up
• enhance
• increase
• distend
• intensify
• heighten
• expand
• protract
• augment
• enlarge
• raise
• amplify
• boost
• escalate
• redouble
• aggrandize

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of whittle

After whittling a 24-point, second-half deficit down to a single point with 4.1 seconds left to play, Ven-Allen Lubin stepped to the free-throw line for two shots that could’ve changed the trajectory of UNC’s season. —Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025

But President-elect Donald Trump's selection of a number of House Republicans to fill top posts in his administration is pulling from an already shallow bench, temporarily whittling the GOP majority down further as Trump takes office in January. —Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 2 Dec. 2024

An 8-2 run punctuated by a floater from Matthew Webber in the lane has whittled the Colorado Academy lead down to 35-30 with three minutes left in the third quarter. —Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2025

Agencies can whittle personnel through layoffs, attrition, removal of underperforming employees, or renegotiation of collective bargaining agreements. —Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025