winnow Synonyms
Another word for winnow
• verb (Context 1)
To examine a large group of people, items, or possibilities in order to remove undesirable elements and reduce them to the most suitable or valuable ones (often followed by 'out' or 'down').
"The hiring committee spent the afternoon working to sift the pool of over two hundred applicants down to five finalists."
• verb (Context 2)
To blow a current of air through grain in order to remove the outer husks or chaff.
"After threshing the wheat on the stone floor, the farmers waited for a steady afternoon breeze to fan the harvest."
• verb (Context 3)
To blow upon or fan something, or to beat the air with wings (especially in literary use).
"A gentle summer breeze began to fan through the tall meadow grass along the riverbank."
Opposites of winnow
The opposite of winnow shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: