Another Word For Whittle

Meaning

The word "whittle" generally means to carve or shape something, typically wood, by repeatedly cutting away thin pieces from it. It can also refer to reducing something gradually in size, amount, or importance. For example, if you have a large task and you manage to break it down into smaller parts or eliminate unnecessary steps, you are "whittling" it down.

Synonyms

• Carve
• Shape
• Trim
• Reduce
• Diminish
• Pare down

Antonyms

• Increase
• Expand
• Enlarge
• Add
• Accumulate

Etymology

The word "whittle" comes from the Middle English "whittlen," which is derived from the Old English "hwit" meaning "white." It originally referred to removing the surface of something to reveal a lighter-colored material beneath.

Examples

1. During art class, we were taught how to whittle a piece of wood into a beautiful sculpture.
2. She decided to whittle down her list of priorities to focus on what really mattered.
3. As the storm approached, we had to whittle our plans for the weekend to just the essentials.