1
as in to shave
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 & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to shorten
to make less in extent or duration
cut back the meeting so everyone could leave early for the long weekend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in curtailed
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in curtailment
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of cut-back
Thom Harris, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Both were from similar actions, where Paintsil tapped in a cut-back pass that nobody on Sporting’s back line anticipated.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
If your shrub has outgrown its space, do a hard cutback during the winter months.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
What To Know Vought has said the administration will cut back on Army Corps of Engineers infrastructure projects in major Democratic-run cities, including New York, San Francisco, Boston and Baltimore.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cut-back
Verb
Alexander Sorloth was one of the first to reap the rewards of simply ignoring the offside trap, sidefooting home from a cut-back for Atletico Madrid back in March after Conor Gallagher was set free down the left.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Both were from similar actions, where Paintsil tapped in a cut-back pass that nobody on Sporting’s back line anticipated.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Bills running back James Cook is one of the best cutback players in the league, a danger because of his excellent vision, speed and power.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
If your shrub has outgrown its space, do a hard cutback during the winter months.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
As a way to help curb these issues without generating waste, TNC teamed up with the Henry Doorly Zoo to cut back the trees and shrubs at the preserve and then use the clippings to supplement the diets of some of the zoo's largest animals.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
What To Know Vought has said the administration will cut back on Army Corps of Engineers infrastructure projects in major Democratic-run cities, including New York, San Francisco, Boston and Baltimore.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cut-back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cut-back
Verb
-
Moviegoers had to agree to have their hair shaved off by a barber in the theater's lobby.—
NPR,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Boston College men's basketball point-shaving scandal One of the clearest examples of La Cosa Nostra's reach in sports was the 1978-79 scandal involving Boston College and two associates of the Lucchese crime family.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In 2020, the Italian F4 championship season came, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Germany’s ADAC Formula Four Championship, where Crawford missed the title by two points.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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An immediate switch back to the Red Sea would shorten supply chains dramatically, causing a temporary doubling of arrivals from Asia to Europe for two weeks.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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What’s left of it was led, at least for a while, by a 29-year-old White House appointee who helped craft Project 2025, the right-wing blueprint that broadly calls for the curtailment of civil rights enforcement.—
J. David McSwane,
ProPublica,
18 Oct. 2025
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In past shutdowns, that has led to the closures of hundreds of national parks and museums, the curtailment of veterans' services, the suspension of health inspections, the postponement of immigration hearings and a slew of other impacts.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Overall, the inflation data likely add fuel to expectations that the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates by another quarter percentage point at its policy meeting later this month - its second consecutive cut.—
NPR,
NPR,
25 Oct. 2025
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Superstar Shohei Ohtani launched a two-run shot to cut the lead down to 11-4, but the momentum still appeared to be on the Blue Jays' side in a raucous Rogers Centre.—
Gabe Smallson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Ohtani threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings in an abbreviated start.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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Key Takeaways Small caps lead weekly gains, Russell 2000 jumps 3.5% Jobs report shows strength, but private sector lags behind Markets calm despite tariff uncertainty and Elon Musk drama Despite the abbreviated trading week, stocks posted decent gains.—
JJ Kinahan,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Noun
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Takaichi agreed to back JIP policies such as a reduction in parliamentary seats, free high school education and a two-year pause on food consumption tax, according to Reuters.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
21 Oct. 2025
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The fields will also be reduced, thanks to new membership reduction measures that take effect next January.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Her arm was hooked up to an IV with a pulse oximeter clipped to her fingertip.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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George Vernadsky clipped the Laurence article and sent it to his father in the Soviet Union.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That's the abridged version of the tricky nature of prosecuting a murder case without a body.—
Fox News,
Fox News,
17 Jan. 2023
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For theater owners, even the abridged period of theatrical exclusivity is considered a win.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Cut-back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cut-back. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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