whittled Definition
- 1to cut small pieces or pare shavings from (a piece of wood) with a knife
- 2to reduce something in size, amount, or extent by cutting away unnecessary parts
Using whittled: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "whittled" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He whittled a stick with his pocket knife.
Example
The company whittled down its workforce to save money.
Example
She whittled away at the block of wood until it was the right shape.
whittled Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with whittled
gradually reduce the size, amount, or extent of something by removing unnecessary parts
Example
We need to whittle down the list of candidates for the job.
gradually reduce the size, amount, or extent of something by removing unnecessary parts
Example
She whittled away at the pile of paperwork on her desk.
Example
He whittled the stick to a point so he could use it to roast marshmallows.
Origins of whittled
from Old English 'thwitan', meaning 'to cut off'
Summary: whittled in Brief
To 'whittle' [ˈwɪtld] means to cut small pieces or pare shavings from a piece of wood with a knife or to reduce something in size, amount, or extent by cutting away unnecessary parts. It can be used literally, as in 'He whittled a stick with his pocket knife,' or figuratively, as in 'The company whittled down its workforce to save money.' 'Whittle' can also be used in phrases like 'whittle down' and 'whittle away,' both meaning to gradually reduce the size, amount, or extent of something by removing unnecessary parts.
