whittling

1 of 2

noun

whit·​tling ˈ(h)wi-tᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce whittling (audio)
ˈ(h)wit-liŋ
Synonyms of whittlingnext
1
: the act or art of whittling
2
: a piece cut away in whittling

whittling

2 of 2

present participle of whittle entry 1

Examples of whittling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The cuts are being ironed out and officials predict the whittling won't be as severe as what's been suggested in earlier proposals. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 There’s no whittling down your magic number when your season is already mathematically tragic. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026 While Ma handled the quilting and Pa the whittling, the girls often made crowns from wildflowers, dolls from cloth or paper, and homemade garlands for the holidays. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 July 2026 First two of 104 matches are this coming Thursday as 12 four-team groups begin the whittling process from 48 nations to a round-of-32. — Greg Cote june 7, Miami Herald, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for whittling

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of whittling was in 1833

Browse Nearby Words

whittler
whittling
whittret
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whittling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whittling. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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