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
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Recent Examples of cut back
Norbert Michel, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Macroeconomic softness in China, underpinned by a property bubble, has consumers cutting back their spending on premium products.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2025
Trump repeatedly has stressed that there will be no cuts to Social Security benefits during his second administration, but the program and its parent agency have faced internal cutbacks driven by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cut back
Verb
Similarly, when the Fed increases the IOR rate to push the FFR up, private banks still must cut back on lending if there is to be an economic slowdown.
—Norbert Michel, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Macroeconomic softness in China, underpinned by a property bubble, has consumers cutting back their spending on premium products.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
Related Articles Meta lays off more than 100 employees across Reality Labs unit
The cutbacks follow an effort last year to slash about 15,000 jobs — a round of layoffs announced in August.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2025
Trump repeatedly has stressed that there will be no cuts to Social Security benefits during his second administration, but the program and its parent agency have faced internal cutbacks driven by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cut back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cut back
Verb
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Wall Street's rebound came after the U.S. and China said in a joint statement earlier Monday that the U.S. will shave tariffs on Chinese goods down to 30 percent from as high as 145 percent.—
Sonam Sheth
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 May 2025
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It’s shaved into unruly ribbons, and half the contents spill from the sandwich.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2025
Verb
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Scientists have learned that mother plants can take stock of environmental conditions and relay signals to developing seeds to prolong or shorten this dormancy.—
Katarina Zimmer,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 May 2025
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The amateur draft was shortened from 40 rounds to five, quashing the possibility that Morgan would be drafted out of OCC that summer.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Noun
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Trump had repeatedly hinted that a future peace deal would include Ukrainian territorial and political concessions and be twinned with the curtailment of U.S. aid to Kyiv.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2025
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In March, grid operators in California shut down 80 gigawatt-hours of the state’s renewable power because the grid couldn’t handle the afternoon solar surge; without more capacity to store power, even larger curtailments will occur.—
David G. Victor,
Foreign Affairs,
13 June 2017
Verb
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The president also floated cutting Chinese tariffs to 80%.—
Grace Miserocchi,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2025
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Return overgrown grass to the proper height by raising the mower deck to cut the grass high.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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Tampa Bay’s first two Cup Final runs in that stretch came in abbreviated seasons.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
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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
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Beijing will meet the U.S. reductions, dropping tariffs on U.S. goods to 10%.—
JJ Kinahan,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
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The bill earmarks a reduction of federal matching funds for Medicaid expansion populations, decreasing the current 90 percent federal contribution to the standard range of 50 to 83 percent.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 May 2025
Verb
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Two ornate brooches from Tiffany & Co. clipped to the belt added a touch of sparkle.—
Brittany Talarico,
People.com,
6 May 2025
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Courtesy of Hyundai/Rolls Royce Automakers that nest key controls deep in touchscreen menus—forcing motorists to drive eyes-down rather than concentrate on the road ahead—may have their non-US safety ratings clipped next year.—
Carlton Reid,
Wired News,
5 May 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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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 May. 2025.
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