1
as in to shave
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument
we need to cut back the bushes a bit so that the house number is visible from the street
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to shorten
to make less in extent or duration
cut back the meeting so everyone could leave early for the long weekend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in curtailed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in curtailment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cut back
Norbert Michel, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Macroeconomic softness in China, underpinned by a property bubble, has consumers cutting back their spending on premium products.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2025
Trump repeatedly has stressed that there will be no cuts to Social Security benefits during his second administration, but the program and its parent agency have faced internal cutbacks driven by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cut back
Verb
Similarly, when the Fed increases the IOR rate to push the FFR up, private banks still must cut back on lending if there is to be an economic slowdown.
—Norbert Michel, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Macroeconomic softness in China, underpinned by a property bubble, has consumers cutting back their spending on premium products.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
Related Articles Meta lays off more than 100 employees across Reality Labs unit
The cutbacks follow an effort last year to slash about 15,000 jobs — a round of layoffs announced in August.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2025
Trump repeatedly has stressed that there will be no cuts to Social Security benefits during his second administration, but the program and its parent agency have faced internal cutbacks driven by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cut back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cut back
Verb
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In a campus webinar Wednesday, Duke Executive Vice President Daniel Ennis and Antwan Lofton, its VP for human resources, summarized some of the actions Duke has taken or will be introducing in the coming weeks to shave costs.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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Legislators may also take up legislation this year to shave off some of the tax revenue the state currently collects from property insurers and redirect it toward a grant program for fire-resistant roofs and vegetation management work.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Scientists have learned that mother plants can take stock of environmental conditions and relay signals to developing seeds to prolong or shorten this dormancy.—
Katarina Zimmer,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 May 2025
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The amateur draft was shortened from 40 rounds to five, quashing the possibility that Morgan would be drafted out of OCC that summer.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Noun
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Trump had repeatedly hinted that a future peace deal would include Ukrainian territorial and political concessions and be twinned with the curtailment of U.S. aid to Kyiv.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2025
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In March, grid operators in California shut down 80 gigawatt-hours of the state’s renewable power because the grid couldn’t handle the afternoon solar surge; without more capacity to store power, even larger curtailments will occur.—
David G. Victor,
Foreign Affairs,
13 June 2017
Verb
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With the new order, Trump is threatening to cut federal funds to cities and states his Administration decides are blocking his mass deportation effort.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
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The state says the rule is crucial to meeting greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and cutting smog-forming pollutants.—
David Shepardson,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Tampa Bay’s first two Cup Final runs in that stretch came in abbreviated seasons.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
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But with 10 games left in the season, this new chapter has a chance to be more abbreviated than its potential.—
Danny Emerman,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The potential reduction in Medicaid funding raises concerns about the ability to meet the healthcare and educational needs of vulnerable populations.—
John D. Simmons,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2025
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Because Ukraine fears the consequences of a reduction in U.S. support, Kyiv has been flexible in readily agreeing to Trump’s ceasefire proposals.—
Eric Green,
Time,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Two ornate brooches from Tiffany & Co. clipped to the belt added a touch of sparkle.—
Brittany Talarico,
People.com,
6 May 2025
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Courtesy of Hyundai/Rolls Royce Automakers that nest key controls deep in touchscreen menus—forcing motorists to drive eyes-down rather than concentrate on the road ahead—may have their non-US safety ratings clipped next year.—
Carlton Reid,
Wired News,
5 May 2025
Adjective
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That's the abridged version of the tricky nature of prosecuting a murder case without a body.—
Fox News,
Fox News,
17 Jan. 2023
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On Friday, Burrows, R-Lubbock, made public his request to Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell Busbee for an abridged video from a school hallway camera to be released.—
Dallas News,
Dallas News,
11 July 2022
Cite this Entry
“Cut back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cut%20back. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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