trimmer

noun

trim·​mer ˈtri-mər 

1

a(1)

: one that trims articles

(2)

: one that stows coal or freight on a ship so as to distribute the weight properly

b

: an instrument or machine with which trimming is done

c

: a circuit element (such as a capacitor) used to tune a circuit to a desired frequency

2

: a beam that receives the end of a header in floor framing

3

: a person who modifies a policy, position, or opinion especially out of expediency

Synonyms of trimmer

• chameleon

Examples of trimmer in a Sentence

gradually fading in the primaries, the former front-runner watched helplessly as the trimmers rushed to embrace the party's newest rising star

last year's winner of the tournament unexpectedly got trimmed in the first round, and the trimmer was a young player that no one had ever heard of

Recent Examples on the Web

Hedge trimmers may be used to cut many branches or stems at once, making the task relatively quick and manageable. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025

Bagsmart designed this water-resistant canvas kit with enough organization and pockets for your beard trimmer and grooming essentials, plus a separate zippered compartment for everything else. —John Lonsdale, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025

This gift set contains an exclusive wick trimmer and 12 petite candles from the luxury brand’s best-selling collections. —Molly Blanco, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025

Nate the Hoof Guy, a Wisconsin hoof trimmer, has become an unlikely internet star. —Emma Veidt, Outside, 25 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing trimmer

• string trimmer

Rhymes for trimmer

• brimmer
• dimmer
• glimmer
• grimmer
• nimmer
• rimmer
• shimmer
• simmer
• skimmer
• slimmer
• swimmer
• timmer