1
as in shaves
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 shortens
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
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 cuts back
Like that video where Bryan Cranston impersonates Art Garfunkel at Central Park, and his bouffant gets bigger every time the camera cuts back.
—
Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 25 Feb. 2026
In quasi-noir mode, the action cuts back repeatedly to Elliot in rough shape in a police interrogation room, being questioned by two detectives (Margaret Cho and Johnny Knoxville, relishing the chance to shove aside their anticonventional reputations and play stern authority figures).
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
What’s more, Young and others say that as the federal government cuts back on health spending, getting access for even basic health services – such as having a child in a hospital – might force patients to travel.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
The Qin Plus remains one of BYD’s best-selling models, and the move follows a series of similar discounts earlier in September for the Tang DM-i, Seal 07 DM-i, and Qin L EV, as well as a broader round of price cuts back in May.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 12 Oct. 2025
Plus, crafting together can even be a fun way to celebrate Halloween that doesn't involve trick-or-treating and cuts back on candy.
—Ellen Sturm Niz, Parents, 8 Oct. 2025
This pantry organizer is also surprisingly compact, fits easily into tight spaces, and even cuts back on your plastic use in the kitchen.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
Then, the camera cuts back to the man who's seen smiling and tipping his hat to a roaring crowd around him after the sweet gesture.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
This recipe cuts back on both without sacrificing flavor.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2025
Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 25 Feb. 2026
In quasi-noir mode, the action cuts back repeatedly to Elliot in rough shape in a police interrogation room, being questioned by two detectives (Margaret Cho and Johnny Knoxville, relishing the chance to shove aside their anticonventional reputations and play stern authority figures).
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
What’s more, Young and others say that as the federal government cuts back on health spending, getting access for even basic health services – such as having a child in a hospital – might force patients to travel.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
The Qin Plus remains one of BYD’s best-selling models, and the move follows a series of similar discounts earlier in September for the Tang DM-i, Seal 07 DM-i, and Qin L EV, as well as a broader round of price cuts back in May.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 12 Oct. 2025
Plus, crafting together can even be a fun way to celebrate Halloween that doesn't involve trick-or-treating and cuts back on candy.
—Ellen Sturm Niz, Parents, 8 Oct. 2025
This pantry organizer is also surprisingly compact, fits easily into tight spaces, and even cuts back on your plastic use in the kitchen.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
Then, the camera cuts back to the man who's seen smiling and tipping his hat to a roaring crowd around him after the sweet gesture.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
This recipe cuts back on both without sacrificing flavor.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cuts back
Verb
-
In the first episode back, Cranston stands completely nude as Kaczmarek’s Lois shaves his back and nether regions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The Echo Spot shaves it down even further to a half-sphere and adds a handy little touch screen for visual information.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Hot and humid weather generally decreases air density, helping the ball carry, while cold weather increases density and shortens flight.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
-
They were also pruned sparingly, if at all, since pruning shortens the life of a birch.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His point cuts to the core of what makes this different from anything a Cold War-era analyst would recognize.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
In the great marketing team at Warner Brothers, there’s a fantastic person there called Susie Shen who cuts the trailers.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Joe Rodon clips a pass over the top of the Brentford defence for Calvert-Lewin to contest.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The holder clips right to your pack or waders and keeps everything in a neat, easy-to-dispense stack.—
Francesca Krempa,
Outside,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The third round of voting trims the field to four restaurants.—
Susan Stapleton,
Des Moines Register,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The Yale Repertory Theatre is using a 2019 adaptation by Frank Galati, which takes the standard Derek Prouse translation which has been around nearly as long as Ionesco original French script and trims it judiciously for maximum theatrical impact.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On the downside, using the camera at 4K noticeably crops the lens view.—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
-
When a user uploads a photo, the algorithm locates the bee, crops the image and compares it to our database.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cuts back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cuts%20back. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
