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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Recent Examples of cutting back
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
Experts also say the benefits of India cutting back on Russian oil purchases outweigh the downsides.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
The script is very confusing to read, cutting back and forth between the dream world and reality.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
Consider using a soil thermometer to determine when to start cutting back your plants.
—Benjamin Vogt, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
Experts also say the benefits of India cutting back on Russian oil purchases outweigh the downsides.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
The script is very confusing to read, cutting back and forth between the dream world and reality.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
Consider using a soil thermometer to determine when to start cutting back your plants.
—Benjamin Vogt, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 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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And the only questions she's getting asked are about shaving her head.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Another unit in Tsuen Wan, a residential neighborhood in the New Territories, was sold at a loss of $142,000, shaving 40% off the original price, according to local news reports.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Fox’s four-season pickup of the series earlier this year included shortening those seasons to 15 episodes each; the previous two had 18 episodes, and for most of The Simpsons’ life a season meant 20 or more.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
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White cake is fluffy, light, and pale, made with egg whites and often shortening and clear vanilla for a bright white finish.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Sennott and her costars speak with an irritatingly fake affect, are shallower than a puddle in the desert and prize selfishness, indolence and artifice.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
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But Friendship also let viewers see some of those Robinson character quirks as evidence of selfishness, male ego, and real mental instability.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
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
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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
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Coach Bill Self did say afterward Peterson was suffering from hamstring tightness in a morning shootaround session.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
12 Nov. 2025
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O’Hara complained about the tightness of the handcuffs, which were on for between 15 and 20 minutes, but no efforts were made to loosen them, according to the complaint.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Tidy it up, trimming off any leggy, weak winter growth.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Nov. 2025
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Arrange soaked ladyfingers in a single layer in bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish, trimming or breaking ladyfingers as needed to fit.—
Amanda Holstein,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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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
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The shoes have a wide toe box with plenty of room for feet to spread out, which helps prevent painful pinching and accommodates foot issues.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cutting back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutting%20back. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.
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