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
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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
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Recent Examples of cutting back
Tristan Bove, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
Pruning improves air circulation, and cutting back long, leggy, single stems reserves energy for new growth.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
In the segment, the co-hosts discussed body image and then cut to a clip from Girls, before cutting back to them, in the studio with their tops off (with black bars covering them from the waist up).
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
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
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
Verb
While low-income shoppers are cutting back on spending, high earners keep infusing the economy with their cash, fueled by stock and real estate gains.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
Pruning improves air circulation, and cutting back long, leggy, single stems reserves energy for new growth.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
In the segment, the co-hosts discussed body image and then cut to a clip from Girls, before cutting back to them, in the studio with their tops off (with black bars covering them from the waist up).
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutting back
Noun
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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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Federal prosecutors charged 26 people in a massive college basketball point-shaving scheme Thursday, which involved numerous players and teams from NCAA Division I men’s basketball.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Jan. 2026
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The announcement follows the federal government’s crackdown on illicit sports gambling and point-shaving schemes that involved the NBA in October.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Melting sea ice has opened new shipping lanes, including the Northern Sea Route, dramatically shortening transit times between Europe and Asia.—
Paul McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Speed, in this context, is less about haste and more about shortening the feedback loop between insight and application.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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These attacks are designed to divide us, to turn us towards cynicism and selfishness.—
Natalia Aristizabal,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
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But becoming a parent doesn’t automatically remove ego or selfishness.—
Noah Galuten,
The Atlantic,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Beijing has responded with a flurry of economic pressure, including cutting flights and warning citizens against traveling to Japan.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
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Last year marked a strong one for stock returns, despite a macroeconomic backdrop largely characterized by rising volatility amid escalating global tensions and a Federal Reserve rate cutting cycle.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Meanwhile, Powell has been dealing with lower back tightness and was listed as questionable for Saturday’s game.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
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But Aestura’s AtoBarrier365 Cream Mist isn’t your average spritz; the 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner delivers an ultrafine cloud of ceramide-rich hydration that helps reinforce your skin’s barrier and relieves midday tightness or dryness on the fly.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Nash kick-started things with a quick six points to open the third quarter, trimming it to a one-point game at 40-39.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
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This time, though, the Heat put together a 10-0 run as part of trimming the deficit to 103-92 entering the fourth.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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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 25 Jan. 2026.
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