1
as in shaving
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 shortening
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 ungenerosity
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutting back
Verb
-
Exposure to direct sunlight or high temperatures can cause squash to ripen too quickly, shortening its shelf life.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
5 Jan. 2025 -
One of the most difficult parts of wedding planning is shortening the guest list.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Diamandis told me that our hardwired inclinations toward selfishness did trouble him sometimes, in the middle of the night.—
Tad Friend,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
-
McMullen explained selfishness manifests in hogging a machine and taking way too long to find a perfect shot.—
Alex Abad-Santos,
Vox,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Melissa Joan Hart is showing off her impressive beard-trimming skills!—
Gil Macias,
People.com,
6 Jan. 2025
-
The couple can be seen having a blast as Hart took the clippers and started trimming Wilkerson's beard in various ways, eventually splitting it into three long strands.—
Gil Macias,
People.com,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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And the itemizing of it, breaking it up, short form, the clipping it out.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
18 Dec. 2024
-
In Don’t Look Back, Bob is reading in a newspaper clipping about himself.—
Seth Abramovitch,
The Hollywood Reporter,
13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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This year's group joins the more than 550 outstanding individuals previously honored and includes women who have worked to uplift the local economy, propel the gospel music industry and advance maternal health.—
Grace Tucker,
The Enquirer,
7 Aug. 2025
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The move is part of Trump’s high-stakes effort to cripple Russia’s economy over its war in Ukraine.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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However, the announcement marks a major win for those in the respective asset industries, who have long been lobbying for a chance to tap into the roughly $12.2 trillion held in retirement savings plans.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
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Compare to Unilever's €1 billion investment in reusable packaging systems, already showing 12% cost savings in pilot markets, proving circular models can be profit centers rather than compliance costs.—
Trond Arne Undheim,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Helen costumes can be found in many places, anywhere from thrift stores to Amazon.com kits and Walmart, according to the metro Detroit Helens.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
4 Aug. 2025
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Also listed is the still-operating Hot Seats, sandwiched between a church-run thrift store and a walk-in medical clinic in a retail complex on U.S. Highway 27, south of Leesburg.—
Annie Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
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No act of parsimony shrinks the size of government either.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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Parsimony For The Prudent The principle of parsimony is a key tenet of business success that prudent entrepreneurs can apply in many areas, including data gathering.—
Julius Černiauskas,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Cutting back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutting%20back. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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