cut back

1 to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument we need to cut back the bushes a bit so that the house number is visible from the street Synonyms bob, crop, cut, clip, dock, lop (off), nip, pare, poll, prune, shave, shear, snip, trimRelated Words skive, whittle; manicure, mow; pinch, stump; curtail, shortenNear Antonyms elongate, extend, lengthen

2 to make less in extent or duration cut back the meeting so everyone could leave early for the long weekend Synonyms abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten, dock, elide, syncopate, truncateRelated Words 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), taperNear Antonyms enlarge, expand, supplement; add, aggrandize, amplify, augment, balloon, boost, dilate, escalate, heighten, increase, maximize, pump up, raise; blow up, distend, inflate, swellAntonyms elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract