as in to cull
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of winnow
The field of contestants, ages 8 to 14, will be winnowed down through several rounds of spelling and giving definitions.
—
Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
She is squarely focused on defending public educators from the threats to winnow down the agency and launched the caucus in response to them.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 9 May 2025
That winnowed the field of borrowers from roughly 42 million to a total of 19.6 million borrowers.
—Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 5 May 2025
The National Science Foundation canceled 73 additional grants on May 9 as the Department of Government Efficiency continues winnowing the agency's projects, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the changes.
—Riley Beggin, USA Today, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for winnow
Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
She is squarely focused on defending public educators from the threats to winnow down the agency and launched the caucus in response to them.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 9 May 2025
That winnowed the field of borrowers from roughly 42 million to a total of 19.6 million borrowers.
—Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 5 May 2025
The National Science Foundation canceled 73 additional grants on May 9 as the Department of Government Efficiency continues winnowing the agency's projects, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the changes.
—Riley Beggin, USA Today, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for winnow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winnow
Verb
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What Biden did: Chickens are culled to stop bird flu’s spread and protect nearby farms, the poultry industry and public health.—
Amy Sherman,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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That has an economic impact since immobile cows are culled: Canning points to U.K. data suggesting cattle lameness results in £142 million ($190 million) of losses there.—
Chris Stokel-Walker,
Fortune,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Nvidia then pared its gains but finished the day up by 1.8%, putting the company’s market value at just below $4 trillion.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
9 July 2025
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Other agents had dismissed Weinberg as a habitual liar looking to pare down his prison sentence, but Fuller saw potential.—
Longreads,
Longreads,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Some might have trimmed guest lists — not for space, but to cut the grocery bill.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2025
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Jon Hart serape tour tote Whataburger's Jon Hart tour tote is stadium compliant in clear plastic, trimmed in all-natural leather and sporting serape webbing handles.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Both headphones are astonishingly quiet, virtually eliminating lower drone sounds, cutting higher frequency noises like key clicks, and even erasing piercing sounds like dogs barking with a bit of music.—
Ryan Waniata,
Wired News,
9 July 2025
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To pay for these initiatives, the law cuts Medicaid and food stamps — programs relied upon by poor households with children — by more than $1 trillion.—
MORIAH BALINGIT,
Chicago Tribune,
9 July 2025
Verb
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This, together with a higher standard deduction, reduced the number of taxpayers who itemize deductions.—
Martin Shenkman,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Do not follow large vehicles closely - Large vehicles like trucks or buses can create a spray of water that can reduce your visibility.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT
Updated July 14,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Families sifted through waterlogged debris Sunday and stepped inside empty cabins at Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer campripped apart by flash floods that washed homes off their foundations and killed at least 82 people in central Texas.—
Brit Morse,
Fortune,
7 July 2025
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Detectives sifted through years of social media posts, noticing the growing tension between Skylar and her friends.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Winnow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winnow. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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