cutting 1 of 3

Definition of cuttingnext
1
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin a frigid day with a cutting wind that made it seem even colder

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

cutting

2 of 3

noun

as in slice
a piece that has been separated from the whole by cutting a bag full of grass cuttings

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cutting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of cut
1
2
as in skipping
to fail to attend a warning that she had been cutting too many classes without valid excuses

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3
4
as in shaving
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument when you cut the pad, make it a little smaller than the carpet

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5
as in mowing
to shorten the standing leafy plant cover of you need to cut the lawn very soon—before it becomes a jungle

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6
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8
as in intersecting
to divide by passing through or across a long mountain range virtually cuts that country in half

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9

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cutting
Verb
This is an unsustainable path if the state hopes to avoid cutting health, education and other priorities. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026 Another option is to remove some of the pups, by cutting under the plants, and gathering the leaves with roots. Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026 Still, some municipalities across the country have moved toward cutting Flock contracts in response to concerns and criticism from residents, NPR reported. Tanya Babbar, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2026 That led to a Stars power play after just cutting the deficit to 3-2, which was at least negated when Johnston took an interference penalty on Jared Spurgeon. Michael Russo, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026 Saudi Arabia’s critical pipeline to the Red Sea has suffered an attack from Iran, cutting throughput by 700,000 barrels per day. Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026 Between the jealousy, paranoia, and a shocking cake-cutting scene that'd give any wedding planner a lifetime of nightmares, The Girlfriend puts a soapy, sexy, scary spin on well-trodden monster-in-law territory. Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026 That the Illini couldn’t complete their comeback attempt despite cutting it to four in the final minutes was dismaying. Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026 There was a ribbon-cutting ceremony a couple of hours before the game, gigantic scissors slicing a pink ribbon. Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutting
Adjective
  • Much like the days getting longer and the air less biting, a sure harbinger that spring is coming is the 33rd annual West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Naperville.
    Annie Alleman, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
  • As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.
    Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Smith’s play falls into the rom-com subgenre of screwball comedy, a satirical take on romance that was popular from the 1930s through the 1950s.
    Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
  • While the show featured many of the same characters, its format strayed from the sci-fi space narrative of Spaceballs and instead was a series of parodies, each episode serving as a satirical commentary on several contemporary hits, such as Lord of the Rings, American Idol and Harry Potter.
    Maddie Garfinkle, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Think apple slices with peanut butter or yogurt with chia seeds and cherries.
    Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Lemon gelatin and candied lemon slices add a spike of citrus.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The crash C-section requires multiple prosthetics, a complicated sequence of surgical tasks, and on-the-fly adjustments as the SFX team and the actors figure out how to make a fake doctor slicing into a fake pregnant belly seem real.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Tasks spanned from basic pick-and-place actions to more advanced, multi-step activities such as slicing an apple or assembling a breakfast tray.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The draw isn’t merely about skipping the commute.
    Lucy Jones April 11, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
  • For comets, sublimation of ices – when solid ice turns directly into gas, skipping the liquid phase – is the primary culprit.
    Patrick M. Shober, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In 2022, authorities exhumed McBride’s body for additional DNA testing, a step New Jersey State Police said was critical to isolating an unknown male DNA profile from earlier evidence.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
  • The main attraction supported an Inter Miami break along the right wing, eventually isolating Rapids defender Lucas Herrington, 1-on-1, in the back of the box.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Very often, the home seller and listing agent will ask for a very short timeline, removing the financing contingency (the full loan approval), shaving 10 days from the process with a closing in 21 days.
    Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Though recession fears have grown since the fighting began more than six weeks ago, most economists think the war will have only modest effects on gross domestic product — maybe shaving off a few tenths of a percentage point overall.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Pure ‘mowing the lawn’ has never worked.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Never cut more than one-third of the grass height when mowing.
    Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cutting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutting. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

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