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
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Recent Examples of cut back
Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
Because right now, with child care problems causing one in four parents, often mothers, to cut back working hours and one in six to leave entirely, Miami-Dade parents and businesses alike are feeling the pain.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 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
Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
The filing does not specify if the cutback in Amazon holdings is from sales of shares, donations or both.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cut back
Verb
Pruning improves air circulation, and cutting back long, leggy, single stems reserves energy for new growth.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
Because right now, with child care problems causing one in four parents, often mothers, to cut back working hours and one in six to leave entirely, Miami-Dade parents and businesses alike are feeling the pain.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
In September 2023, under De Zerbi, Brighton’s opening goal again came from a cut-back, this time the right flank.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 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
Noun
The Saints tied it on a short screen pass from Caden Jones to Bey who made a slick cutback before reaching the end zone for a 15-yard scoring play with 24 seconds remaining in the half to tie it 21-21.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
The filing does not specify if the cutback in Amazon holdings is from sales of shares, donations or both.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cut back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cut back
Verb
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Eger’s blonde hair was shaved and her earrings were pulled off, leaving her ears bleeding.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
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But now, federal prosecutors say Hennen is the fixer behind the biggest point-shaving scandal in history, accused of bribing 39 college players, corrupting 17 programs and fixing — or trying fix — 29 games to enrich himself and other gamblers.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The draft was twelve pages long, including references, and The Lancet had asked Koren to shorten it to a page.—
Ben Taub,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
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According to the World Health Organization and Cambridge University, people with bipolar disorder have a life expectancy that is shortened by ten to fifteen years on average, and a 2x-3x higher all-cause mortality rate than the general population.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Many types of utopias have been articulated in late-modern culture, each one a distillation of some community’s desire for relief from the strictures and curtailments of life’s possibilities.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Dec. 2025
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Its manifesto centered on curtailment of the power of the railroads, federal loans to aid farmers in debt, and currency reform that entailed reintroducing Hamilton’s old silver dollar alongside the gold dollar to ease monetary conditions, which would give debtors a chance to clear their loans.—
David McWilliams,
Fortune,
16 Nov. 2025
Verb
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With the benefit of hindsight, analysts and investors have blamed much of Kraft Heinz’s downward spiral on the brutal cost-cutting strategy imposed after the merger.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
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Beijing has spent decades growing its trade ties and bankrolling projects in the region, to boost transportation links and cut energy costs – cementing its own influence along the way.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
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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The company strips out nonessential systems and designs each component around mass reduction.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
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On Wednesday, city leaders said the strategy has driven the recent crime reduction.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The need to clip the governor’s fiscal wings is urgent.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
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Doing a quick scan of weekly sales, clipping coupons ahead of time and knowing what's in season can also shape smarter choices.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 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
Cite this Entry
“Cut back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cut%20back. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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