WINNOWING Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

winnowing

verb

present participle of winnow

as in culling

to remove less desirable choices from a group or list They winnowed the pool of applicants down to a few of the strongest candidates. I tried to winnow out the options that weren't a good value for the price.

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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 winnowing With 21 applicants to choose from, the Miami-Dade School Board kicked off the process of winnowing down that field to select a new superintendent at a special meeting Wednesday. — Austin Horn june 25, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026 Even in the face of Comcast’s subscriber-winnowing move to shift NESN to its pricier service tier, the network’s ratings continue to grow. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 12 June 2026 Iowa’s legislative funnel deadline has done its job again, winnowing the list of bills that still could become laws this year. — Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 20 Mar. 2026 The club is winnowing down its pitching options. — Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026 Is the only pleasure in her winnowing life to be denied? — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2026 All that standing and walking and winnowing down culminated with Tuesday night’s best in show event. — Poupay Jutharat, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2026 The fewer skiing trails and snow resorts that exist around the world, the more expensive and inaccessible these sports will become, winnowing the potential pool of future Olympians further. — Laura Millan, Bloomberg, 4 Feb. 2026 As in baseball, the awards race may be winnowing to the two true outcomes — a world where Best Picture nominees are either a huge Hollywood blockbuster or a foreign-language film from Cannes. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for winnowing

Verb

The agency has dealt with homeowners illegally culling trees to improve their views in the past, but those are dwarfed by the scale of these poisonings, Cowen said.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
The Australian watchdog's claim, filed to the federal court Wednesday, said the unlimited broadcast size of Telegram channels meant the app must take responsibility for culling harmful material.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026

Definition of culling

Verb

The first came on a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ko Kieft, trimming Tampa Bay’s deficit to 9-7 with just under seven minutes to play in the quarter.

— Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
This relaxed-but-polished organic cotton sweater has a classic crew neckline and ribbed trimming to elevate the look.

— Kaitlin Marks, Travel + Leisure, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of trimming

Verb

The finding highlights the challenge that could lie ahead if the county’s mayor and commissioners try to significantly reduce property-tax spending without cutting pay or services in those areas.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
In 2025, 8086 kilograms of denim waste from cutting-table offcuts, testing and second-choice samples was converted into 600 boards.

— Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of cutting

Verb

China, too, has relied heavily on its own massive oil stockpiles, while simultaneously drastically reducing its crude imports.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
That’s the international initiative aimed at reducing the number of severe injury and fatal crashes to zero.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of reducing

Verb

Shares had jumped nearly 630% before paring gains to close at 845 yuan.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
But the necessity of paring down such a massive event has the effect of flattening the very elements that ought to give it its texture and heft — namely, the people involved.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026

Definition of paring

Verb

On Day 2, stir mixture and measure out 110 g (1/2 cup) of starter into a fresh container, discarding the rest (at this point, the discard is not ready to be used in recipes).

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2026
The cruise line submitted a subsequent report detailing a range of corrective actions, from rewashing coffee urns to discarding the tray of bread where the fly was found.

— Nathan Diller, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of discarding

Browse Nearby Words

winnowed (out)

winnowing

winnows

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Style

“Winnowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winnowing. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of winnowing

verb

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