whittle away

verb

whittled away; whittling away; whittles away
: to reduce or get rid of (something) slowly
I'm still trying to whittle away a few more pounds.

Examples of whittle away in a Sentence

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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.
Thus, as that outer layer is whittled away, there is less and less material to be stripped away in subsequent episodes. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Democrats are hoping to whittle away at that lead the old-fashioned way — by winning elections. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026 The billionaires’ strategy is whittling away at SEIU’s influence in the state Legislature, where the state council has historically used its endorsements and army of volunteers to boost progressive candidates aligned with their cause. — Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026 Purges of the state bureaucracy and judiciary followed, while Erdogan whittled away at the Turkish republic’s secular foundations with his brand of religious nationalism. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for whittle away

Rhymes for whittle away

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Browse Nearby Words

whittle
whittle away
whittle down
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Cite this Entry

“Whittle away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whittle%20away. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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