Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

abridge

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of abridge

to make less in extent or duration
  • The library's hours have been drastically abridged to cut costs.
Synonyms of abridge

abbreviate, curtail, cut back, dock, elide, shorten, syncopate, truncate
Words Related to abridge

abstract, digest, encapsulate, epitomize, recapitulate, summarize, sum up

abate, compress, constrict, contract, cut, cut down, pare, prune, trim

decrease, de-escalate, deflate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, moderate, modify, reduce, retrench, shrink, slash, subtract (from), taper
Near Antonyms of abridge

enlarge, expand, supplement

add, aggrandize, amplify, augment, balloon, boost, dilate, escalate, heighten, increase, maximize, pump up, raise

blow up, distend, inflate, swell
Antonyms of abridge

elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract

Synonym Discussion of abridge

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

Learn More about abridge

  1. See words that rhyme with abridge Dictionary: Definition of abridge Spanish Central: Translation of abridge Nglish: Translation of abridge for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of abridge for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up abridge? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

loath

play

unwilling or reluctant

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. symbiote 'an organism living in symbiosis'

  2. charlatan 'faker or fraud'

  3. lowlife 'a person of low moral character'

  4. kakistocracy 'government by the worst people'

  5. slimeball 'a morally repulsive or odious person'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-5adf5d017e6bf
‘Sleight’ or ‘Slight’ of Hand?

Watch closely and be amazed.

alt-5ade0f1ca7a0c
'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

The distinction is clear (now).

image236659401
Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

When English borrows from another alphabet

alt-5ada140ed3e28
'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Why not both?

Ask the Editors

image1760257654
2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally
Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

image1926873504
Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz
cats-on-impossible-timber
More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz
True or False
True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz
Word Winder's CrossWinder
Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game