whittle away

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At first, she was content to whittle away at her debt by making the minimum payments for perhaps two decades.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2025

Then, as Joe tries and fails to whittle away at Brontë’s sense of self in a bid to regain her affections, he realizes that he has lost control.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2025

"If you don't feel exhilarated by it, it's a slog. It's a really, really dreadful way to whittle away your life unless you love it," he says.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2024

Over time, the effect is to whittle away their desire to question it.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 10, 2024

I've time enough to whittle away at this before mother comes back.

From The Grey Woman and other Tales by Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn