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
Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026
Two Scenarios Investors Should Watch Lower token prices could boost consumption, or AI’s limited ROI could drive companies to cut back.
—Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Alec Lewis, New York Times, 12 June 2026
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
Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
João Cancelo made a nice run through the left side of the area with a couple of cutback moves to get past defenders but his shot was parried by keeper Juan Muso and rebounded in off Lewandowski's shoulder.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cut back
Verb
Resident Raymond Hanley said his concern is that anti-pollution systems that Silverman would install in its parking lots and roadways could become useless if property maintenance is cut back in the future.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026
Two Scenarios Investors Should Watch Lower token prices could boost consumption, or AI’s limited ROI could drive companies to cut back.
—Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Adjective
The Vikings want to base out of the wide zone, where offensive linemen fire off the ball in tandem and running backs find clear cut-back lanes.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 12 June 2026
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
Noun
The layoffs are the latest to hit Hollywood, which has been hard hit by the exodus of film and TV jobs to other states and countries, a cutback in the number of films being released and media consolidation.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
João Cancelo made a nice run through the left side of the area with a couple of cutback moves to get past defenders but his shot was parried by keeper Juan Muso and rebounded in off Lewandowski's shoulder.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cut back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cut back
Verb
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The discovery emerged from a quarry where commercial crews routinely shave away layers of rock, exposing relics hidden for millions of years.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
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In October, the feds announced a sweeping investigation into NBA point-shaving rings tied to the mafia.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Sean Combs is getting his sentence shortened.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
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That increases visibility and shortens the time needed to attract qualified applicants.—
Audrey Payne,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
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
Noun
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The curtailment of academic freedom, the deportation of foreign students, the banning of protests: all of this is being done under the pretext of protecting Jews, who alone are entitled to protections that other groups apparently don’t merit.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
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Water curtailments in 2022 cost Sacramento Valley farmers 14,300 jobs and more than $1.3 billion in economic value.—
Calista Oetama,
Sacbee.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Researchers say the facility significantly cuts both training time and cost for AI models.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Dec. 2025
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Sacramento’s latest homelessness decision will cut funding and reduce services at some shelters that support pregnant youth, the LGBTQ+ community and young parents.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
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This is a crisis that cannot be ignored, especially with school-age children now in summer vacation, which means even further reductions in access to healthy foods.—
Michael Farver,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
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Believed by some to help with healing, recovery and reduction of inflammation, advocates go so far as to suggest peptides can increase longevity.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Today, for $50 — the price of two boxes of gloves — employers can deploy a wearable sensor clipped to a worker’s arm to track core temperature and heart rate, sending a warning before the body crosses the edge into heatstroke.—
Dean Florez,
Mercury News,
19 Aug. 2025
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Sometimes calls are overturned because the ball clipped the zone by measurements as small as a tenth of an inch.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Immediately drop spoonfuls of meringue onto hot pie filling, and carefully spread meringue to cover top completely, spreading to edge of crust to prevent shrinkage or weeping.—
Kelly Brant,
Arkansas Online,
9 Dec. 2025
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In the study participants with type 2 diabetes, men showed muscle shrinkage.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cut back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cut%20back. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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