as in ungenerosity
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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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cutting back
Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
That has included some districts cutting back specialist medical response teams, mental health crisis teams and heavy rescue teams, Watkins said.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
With costs climbing and many customers cutting back, Denver's restaurant scene has been hit hard.
—Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
But younger shoppers are increasingly cutting back on small daily indulgences while redirecting those savings toward statement pieces.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025
Newsom is widely reviled here for cutting back on oil drilling and not prioritizing new reservoirs to store water for thirsty farms.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
For Adams, who was cutting back library hours to pay for the shelters and taking political heat for giving handouts to migrants, that was not a satisfying answer.
—Molly Ball, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
How to keep copperheads away from your home Owens said the best way to keep copperheads from hanging around is to clean up your yard, by cutting back tall grass and shrubs, and getting rid of anything that might attract rodents.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2025
Winter winds can cause the shrub to rock at the roots and loosen, and cutting back the plant’s height prevents this.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
Taken together, the findings suggest that fewer Americans may be drinking, but those who do may not be cutting back as dramatically as surveys focused solely on participation imply.
—Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
That has included some districts cutting back specialist medical response teams, mental health crisis teams and heavy rescue teams, Watkins said.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
With costs climbing and many customers cutting back, Denver's restaurant scene has been hit hard.
—Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
But younger shoppers are increasingly cutting back on small daily indulgences while redirecting those savings toward statement pieces.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2025
Newsom is widely reviled here for cutting back on oil drilling and not prioritizing new reservoirs to store water for thirsty farms.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
For Adams, who was cutting back library hours to pay for the shelters and taking political heat for giving handouts to migrants, that was not a satisfying answer.
—Molly Ball, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
How to keep copperheads away from your home Owens said the best way to keep copperheads from hanging around is to clean up your yard, by cutting back tall grass and shrubs, and getting rid of anything that might attract rodents.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2025
Winter winds can cause the shrub to rock at the roots and loosen, and cutting back the plant’s height prevents this.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutting back
Noun
-
What Warren fails to recognize is that the formula of progress that dictates these measures also dictates that they will someday be regarded as the ungenerosity of a primitive people.—
Greg Weiner,
National Review,
26 Sep. 2019
Verb
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Millions of Americans are shaving down their grocery budgets and putting off buying a home as wages fail to meet rising costs of living.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Emma Stone Stone kicked off the year with a bang—or, rather, a pixie—after shaving her head for her role in Bugonia.—
Rachel Krause,
Vogue,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
After shortening the bench late in regulation and 15 minutes of overtimes Saturday against Boise State, Dutcher had used his full 11-man rotation five minutes into the game in the rarefied air of Reno and got a balanced performance from pretty much everyone.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
-
But otherwise, Dale Hunter, who is famous for shortening his bench with the London Knights, never did in this tournament.—
Corey Pronman,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These attacks are designed to divide us, to turn us towards cynicism and selfishness.—
Natalia Aristizabal,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
But becoming a parent doesn’t automatically remove ego or selfishness.—
Noah Galuten,
The Atlantic,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In 2022, debris from an underwater volcanic eruption severed the island's only subsea communication cable, cutting the island off from the rest of the world.—
Magdalena Petrova,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Richard’s motor ran high despite the lopsided score, cutting for two layups and also canning a 3-pointer to put up a quick seven points in the period.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Red algae helps skin retain moisture, preventing tightness that often follows exfoliating cleansers.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
1 Jan. 2026
-
The latest gains also have been driven by traders rushing to ship copper to the US in anticipation of potential tariffs, creating tightness elsewhere.—
Bloomberg,
Fortune,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Trailing most of the game, Dallas couldn't get a fourth-quarter stop after trimming the deficit to three points with 10 minutes remaining.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
-
That’s in part by trimming the approval process.—
CalMatters,
Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Made from SpanxSmooth material—a lightweight nylon-and-elastane blend—the bralette feels almost weightless and provides gentle smoothing without any digging or pinching.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
30 Nov. 2025
-
Walter’s first full season in charge was the end of the penny pinching that existed under prior owner Frank McCourt.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cutting back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutting%20back. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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