as in shortens
to make less in extent or duration
curtailed the school day because of the stormy weather
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Recent Examples of curtails
Such a reading of the law at the center of the case could provide Trump an opening -- along with other tariffs that have not been challenged in court -- to continue his global-trotting mission to reshape trade imbalances, even if the high court curtails his broad tariff power.
—
Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
Where To Stay in Martin County With a strict ban on buildings over four stories, the Treasure Coast curtails the kind of over development that can choke out some Florida beach towns.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
That curtails with previous reporting from Fortune showing how high housing costs and other life expenses have forced Gen Z and millennials to delay the American Dream.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025
Equity grading, which curtails teacher discretion, should be junked.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
His minority interest in the Raiders presents a clear conflict of interest that at least subconsciously likely curtails his willingness to criticize, at least to an extent.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
Where To Stay in Martin County With a strict ban on buildings over four stories, the Treasure Coast curtails the kind of over development that can choke out some Florida beach towns.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
That curtails with previous reporting from Fortune showing how high housing costs and other life expenses have forced Gen Z and millennials to delay the American Dream.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025
Equity grading, which curtails teacher discretion, should be junked.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
His minority interest in the Raiders presents a clear conflict of interest that at least subconsciously likely curtails his willingness to criticize, at least to an extent.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curtails
shortens
Verb
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Taking zinc on the first day symptoms appear shortens the duration of respiratory viruses, such as the common cold and COVID-19.—
Megan Nunn,
Verywell Health,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Unfiltered water, Adams insists, leads to sediment buildup in your water heater, which shortens its lifespan and lessens its heating efficiency.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curtails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curtails. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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