winnowing

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.

The winnowing of victims has been the result of byzantine legal procedures, strict vetting and tightened eligibility rules, which victims told ProPublica and the Inquirer took them by surprise.

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026

Ask DePetro why someone might prefer his content to the nightly news, and he’ll gesture toward the rapidly winnowing media industry.

From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026

The challenge will become winnowing out the innocuous junk from the truly dangerous slop.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025

Squeezing through its aperture, it’s easy to reflect on the winnowing that happens at the end of our days, as physical, mental and other abilities slowly fade.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

“May it be mine,” the reaper prays, “beside Demeter’s altar to dig the great winnowing fan through her heaps of corn, while she stands smiling by with sheaves and poppies in her hand.”

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton