as in to cull
to remove less desirable choices from a group or list
They winnowed the pool of applicants down to a few of the strongest candidates. I tried to winnow out the options that weren't a good value for the price.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of winnow
Survival odds rapidly winnow for the Wolfettes, plus their unlucky boyfriends and anyone else who gets in the way.
—
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 23 May 2025
Beginning with hundreds of potential offerings, the team winnows the list down so that only the best are up for consideration.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 20 May 2025
As such, the pool of dozens of prospects will be winnowed down to 12 jurors and 6 alternates, who will be sworn in on Monday morning ahead of opening statements.
—Elizabeth Rosner, People.com, 12 May 2025
That has become, over the last 60 years, the safety net as our social safety net has winnowed away.
—John Surico, Curbed, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for winnow
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 23 May 2025
Beginning with hundreds of potential offerings, the team winnows the list down so that only the best are up for consideration.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 20 May 2025
As such, the pool of dozens of prospects will be winnowed down to 12 jurors and 6 alternates, who will be sworn in on Monday morning ahead of opening statements.
—Elizabeth Rosner, People.com, 12 May 2025
That has become, over the last 60 years, the safety net as our social safety net has winnowed away.
—John Surico, Curbed, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for winnow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winnow
Verb
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Here are nine reasons, culled from multiple sources: 1.—
Jim Gorzelany,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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In the seminal teen drama's first episode, Joey (Katie Holmes) reveals that her father is in prison for trafficking marijuana, a detail Dawson's Creek and The Waterfront creator Kevin Williamson culled from his own life.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
19 June 2025
Verb
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Each has flares of humor and surprise, but there is something cramped about them too, a sense of exhausted expectations, of a genre being pared down to a bundle of tropes.—
Charlie Lee,
Harpers Magazine,
18 June 2025
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University Endowment Tax The Senate bill significantly pares back the House’s plans to increase taxes on investment income generated by private university endowments.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
17 June 2025
Verb
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Though the index rebounded shortly after, its gains were trimmed in early 2025 as U.S. President Donald Trump ignited his trade war.—
Zinnia Lee,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
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Asparagus could be cut, trucked to the plant, trimmed, washed, blanched, packaged, and quick-frozen to -40 degrees Fahrenheit in less than two hours; one was the goal.—
John Seabrook
June 11,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2025
Verb
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Other options include raising payroll taxes, cutting benefits for future recipients, or a combination of all three.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 June 2025
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Perry’s 10th playoff goal this season cut the Panthers lead to 4-2.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
15 June 2025
Verb
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Inflation data of late has shown little pass-through so far as companies burn off inventory accumulated in the run-up to the tariff announcement, and amid concerns that consumer demand is slowing and reducing pricing power.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
20 June 2025
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The City Council voted 7-0 June 10 to approve an ordinance to reduce the latest time in which peddlers and solicitors can knock on doors, ring doorbells or otherwise try to get admittance at residences from 9 p.m. Gayatri Agnew, Ward 1 City Council member, abstained from voting.—
Thomas Saccente,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Cooking from scratch, for scale One of first pieces of equipment highlighted on the PK tour was a huge lift that can hoist and sift a 2,200-pound bag of flour.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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Recommendations that affect insurance coverage The members of ACIP meet at least three times a year to sift through the scientific data on vaccines and determine which ones are recommended for different age groups.—
Maria Godoy,
NPR,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Winnow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winnow. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.
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