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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in curtailment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cut back
Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Massive tariffs on Chinese goods have also been cut back amid negotiations.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 29 May 2025
Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
In late February, Project BLANK officials were on the verge of canceling the event amid growing rumbles that the new Trump administration was planning cutbacks at the National Endowment for the Arts.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cut back
Verb
Automakers, consumer and commercial electronics, household appliances, and medical devices were all forced to cut back production.
—Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Massive tariffs on Chinese goods have also been cut back amid negotiations.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 29 May 2025
Noun
The finding was announced late Thursday by the Health and Human Services Department, marking the latest blow for an Ivy League school already shaken by federal cutbacks and sustained government pressure to crack down on student speech.
—Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
In late February, Project BLANK officials were on the verge of canceling the event amid growing rumbles that the new Trump administration was planning cutbacks at the National Endowment for the Arts.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cut back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cut back
Verb
-
An article published that year by The New York Times notes that Davis shaved the front of her head for the part.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
5 June 2025
-
To begin, researchers tried to mimic sun exposure by shaving the dorsal skin of mice and applying cis-urocanic acid (dissolved in water).—
Jay Kakade
June 03,
New Atlas,
3 June 2025
Verb
-
Among them, Florida is the only team to do so after playing a full 82-game regular season in all three years, as Tampa Bay’s first two seasons were shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Kaitlyn Pohly,
Miami Herald,
8 June 2025
-
Only time separates us from that result, and what matters most is shortening that time.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
8 June 2025
Noun
-
When this happens, transmission operators will enact dispatch down or curtailment measures.—
Renny Vandewege,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
-
If moving up the start date will result in a smaller curtailment of services, implementing parking fees earlier is the better option.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
The end of Elon Musk’s time at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency is the latest chapter in a long story: Republicans are better at cutting taxes than cutting spending.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
3 June 2025
-
President Joe Biden promoted a suite of policies meant to cut carbon emissions by boosting EV sales.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
Tampa Bay’s first two Cup Final runs in that stretch came in abbreviated seasons.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
-
But with 10 games left in the season, this new chapter has a chance to be more abbreviated than its potential.—
Danny Emerman,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Largely confirming what other economic models have predicted, the Congressional Budget Office's estimations show that the tradeoff for a $2.8 trillion deficit reduction over 10 years would be an overall reduction in household wealth.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 June 2025
-
The answer lies in reframing identity governance as a foundational layer for risk reduction.—
Leslie Milne,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
Every feather was clipped short; the bullet must have gone the length of the bird’s body cutting feathers and not once drawing blood!—
Percy Brown,
Outdoor Life,
12 June 2025
-
First, trim your nails by clipping straight across to create short tips.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
11 June 2025
Adjective
-
That's the abridged version of the tricky nature of prosecuting a murder case without a body.—
Fox News,
Fox News,
17 Jan. 2023
-
On Friday, Burrows, R-Lubbock, made public his request to Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell Busbee for an abridged video from a school hallway camera to be released.—
Dallas News,
Dallas News,
11 July 2022
Cite this Entry
“Cut back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cut%20back. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share