Definition of retrench
intransitive verb
:to make retrenchments;
specifically
:economize
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Examples of retrench in a Sentence
When the economy slowed, the company was forced to retrench.
Recent Examples of retrench from the Web
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Donald Trump didn’t force McConnell to use the public’s frustrations over high medical costs as cover for an attempt to retrench the welfare state.
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Both chains have been investing in their grocery items offerings — a proven way to increase customers — while Kmart has been retrenching on groceries.
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Both the Sixers and Celtics, albeit to differing degrees, have undergone times of retrenching.
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Open land is scarce, but as shopping centers begin to retrench under the e-commerce onslaught, struggling retail areas can be converted to housing, the report suggests.
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Others chains that have shuttered all their stores or retrenched include Abercrombie & Fitch, BCBG and Wet Seal.
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Others chains that have shuttered all their stores or retrenched include Abercrombie & Fitch, BCBG and Wet Seal.
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Others chains that have shuttered all their stores or retrenched include Abercrombie & Fitch, BCBG and Wet Seal.
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While Credit Suisse is retrenching globally as part of Chief Executive Officer Tidjane Thiam’s turnaround plan, its cost-cutting efforts have been a boost to the operations in North Carolina’s Research Triangle area.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'retrench.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of retrench
obsolete French retrencher (now retrancher), from Middle French retrenchier, from re- + trenchier to cut
Synonym Discussion of retrench
shorten, curtail, abbreviate, abridge, retrench mean to reduce in extent. shorten implies reduction in length or duration.
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- shorten a speech
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- ceremonies curtailed because of rain
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- using an abbreviated title
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- the abridged version of the novel
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- declining business forced the company to retrench
RETRENCH Defined for English Language Learners
retrench
play
verb
Definition of retrench for English Language Learners
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: to change the way things are done in order to spend less money
Learn More about retrench
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See words that rhyme with retrench Spanish Central: Translation of retrench Nglish: Translation of retrench for Spanish speakers
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