WHITTLES Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

whittles

verb

present tense third-person singular of whittle

as in cuts

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.

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of whittles Specifically, retinol smooths fine lines, lessens wrinkle depth, and whittles the appearance of large pores. — Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 29 May 2026 Throughout the regular season, the league evaluates those 70 people and whittles the larger list down to the top 40 (20 referees paired with 20 linespeople). — Sean Gentille, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026 Typically, Cameron whittles his selections for each part down to five or six actors based on recommendations and audition tapes, and not only meets with them but tries to create some of the circumstances that will be replicated on set. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 22 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whittles

Verb

Limiting it to households with wealth under $500,000 — about 70% of Americans — cuts that to $190 billion.

— Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Maribeth cuts her eyes over at me to see how all this is landing.

— George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of cuts

Verb

Which is why golf buddies Tyler Kenney and Zach Smith founded Laced Golf, a digital device that clips onto your shoelaces and gives you real-time feedback on your stance using lights and haptic vibration.

— Eliza Thompson, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
All of my essentials are packed in my Stowaway, which clips into my weekender as a bag organizer, and can clip out to be worn on its own as a crossbody when walking around during the day or as a clutch when going out in the evening.

— Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 16 July 2026

Definition of clips

Verb

The Medicare Advantage and D-SNP list drops authorization for speech and language treatment, group speech treatment, swallowing dysfunction and spinal chiropractic manipulation.

— JP Montoya, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Given the memory chip industry’s history of boom and bust cycles, some industry observers worry that overinvesting by both chipmakers and chip equipment makers could pose a risk if demand drops.

— Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of drops

Verb

Their average life span is about 8,000 hours, but turning them on and off frequently shortens this time frame.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2026
Keeping machining close to engineering also shortens the feedback loop between design and testing.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026