curtail

verb

cur·​tail (ˌ)kər-ˈtāl 

curtailed; curtailing; curtails

transitive verb

: to make less by or as if by cutting off or away some part

curtail the power of the executive branch

curtail inflation

Some school activities are being curtailed due to a lack of funds.

curtailer

(ˌ)kər-ˈtā-lər 

noun

Synonyms

• abbreviate
• abridge
• cut back
• dock
• elide
• shorten
• syncopate
• truncate

Choose the Right Synonym for curtail

shorten, curtail, abbreviate, abridge, retrench mean to reduce in extent.

shorten implies reduction in length or duration.

shorten a speech

curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy.

ceremonies curtailed because of rain

abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part.

using an abbreviated title

abridge implies a reduction in compass or scope with retention of essential elements and a relative completeness in the result.

the abridged version of the novel

retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive.

declining business forced the company to retrench

Examples of curtail in a Sentence

The new laws are an effort to curtail illegal drug use.

School activities are being curtailed due to a lack of funds.

Recent Examples on the Web

Focusing merely on superficial symptoms instead does little more than curtail the overall impact generated by giving an inspirational talk. —Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024

Chief Judge Carl Ashley's order Friday came as the sheriff's office publicly announced its plans to curtail its use of overtime that was leading to staff burnout. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2024

The European Union is rolling out a series of laws that protect users’ rights to their own data and regulate digital marketplaces, curtailing Apple’s app store, for example. —Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2024

Over the course of Israel’s nearly yearlong war against Hamas in Gaza, U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has been reluctant to apply serious pressure on Israel to curtail its most destructive operations and seek an end to the conflict. —Daniel Silverman, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

by folk etymology from earlier curtal to dock an animal's tail, from curtal, noun, animal with a docked tail, from Middle French courtault — more at curtal

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

curtail

verb

cur·​tail (ˌ)kər-ˈtā(ə)l 

: to make less by or as if by cutting off part of

curtailer

-ˈtā-lər 

noun

curtailment

-ˈtāl-mənt

noun