as in shortening
to make less in extent or duration
curtailed the school day because of the stormy weather
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Recent Examples of curtailing
In total, over 20 key experts working on AXIS were removed from Goddard and from NASA entirely, significantly curtailing the team’s ability to execute.
—
Big Think, 11 Mar. 2026
Still, Republican lawmakers appear likely to vote down measures curtailing presidential war powers this week.
—Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026
The most effective lifestyle adjustment is to limit consumption of red meat, followed by quitting tobacco use, managing your blood sugar, maintaining a healthy weight, curtailing alcohol use and staying physically active.
—Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
Anthropic, according to a story in The Atlantic, was particularly concerned about the Pentagon using its technology for this kind of analysis and that its insistence on curtailing that use case was one of the major stumbling blocks to breaking its deadlock with the DOW.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
According to several government and military sources familiar with the plan’s implementation, its first phase took effect in the last days of January, severely curtailing the ability of both warring sides to use Starlink for their attack drones.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
Weeks after a Lafayette judge and his wife were shot in their home, Indiana lawmakers approved a package of protections for judges, including curtailing access to their addresses.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 26 Feb. 2026
The measures could include curtailing the export and import of goods and services, barring countries or companies from EU public tenders, or limiting foreign direct investment.
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
This ruling had a massive impact on low-income neighborhoods, which were suddenly subjected to a separate system of law, curtailing residents’ rights more sharply than their wealthier, whiter counterparts’.
—Emily Galvin Almanza, Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
Big Think, 11 Mar. 2026
Still, Republican lawmakers appear likely to vote down measures curtailing presidential war powers this week.
—Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026
The most effective lifestyle adjustment is to limit consumption of red meat, followed by quitting tobacco use, managing your blood sugar, maintaining a healthy weight, curtailing alcohol use and staying physically active.
—Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
Anthropic, according to a story in The Atlantic, was particularly concerned about the Pentagon using its technology for this kind of analysis and that its insistence on curtailing that use case was one of the major stumbling blocks to breaking its deadlock with the DOW.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
According to several government and military sources familiar with the plan’s implementation, its first phase took effect in the last days of January, severely curtailing the ability of both warring sides to use Starlink for their attack drones.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
Weeks after a Lafayette judge and his wife were shot in their home, Indiana lawmakers approved a package of protections for judges, including curtailing access to their addresses.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 26 Feb. 2026
The measures could include curtailing the export and import of goods and services, barring countries or companies from EU public tenders, or limiting foreign direct investment.
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
This ruling had a massive impact on low-income neighborhoods, which were suddenly subjected to a separate system of law, curtailing residents’ rights more sharply than their wealthier, whiter counterparts’.
—Emily Galvin Almanza, Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curtailing
Verb
-
In a large bowl beat shortening with a mixer on medium to high 30 seconds.—
Maddy Bendgen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Mar. 2026
-
When one dog needed encouragement to run through the tunnel, Magnuson intervened, shortening it to a few feet.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The departments of Commerce, Housing and Urban Development and Transportation, along with the Federal Housing Finance Agency, are instructed to eliminate regulations and update programs that are reducing residential development.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
-
But the practical effect also meant that the entire second floor of the hotel was turned over to the pope, reducing its capacity for paying guests.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curtailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curtailing. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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