whittled (down) (Meaning)

whittled (down)

to gradually make (something) smaller by removing parts

The master craftsman whittled down the block of wood into an intricate figurine.
Over the years, the waves had whittled down the coastline, creating dramatic sea cliffs.
The storm whittled down the towering trees, leaving behind only their shattered trunks.
The budget was meticulously whittled down until every dollar was accounted for.
The competition whittled down the number of contestants until only the top performers remained.
The negotiations had whittled down the points of conflict to a manageable few.
The sculptor carefully whittled down the marble block to reveal the hidden beauty within.
Time had whittled down their youthful exuberance into a quieter wisdom.
The researcher whittled down the mountain of data to identify the key insights.
The wind whittled down the snowdrifts, creating ephemeral shapes and patterns.

to gradually make (something) smaller by removing parts

turned down, cut back, knocked down,cut down, lessened, docked, cropped, nicked, pared, abridged

picked, preferred, culled, elected, opted (for), set, marked,singled (out), selected, took

The master craftsman whittled down the block of wood into an intricate figurine.

Over the years, the waves had whittled down the coastline, creating dramatic sea cliffs.

The storm whittled down the towering trees, leaving behind only their shattered trunks.

The budget was meticulously whittled down until every dollar was accounted for.