lopping (off)

present participle of lop (off)
as in shaving
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument the hair stylist started by lopping off several inches from her long tresses, before beginning to shape what was left

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lopping (off)
Verb
  • Men in some communities stop shaving, while women may remove their jewelry.
    — Shushan Karapetian, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Like almost winning a race, almost shaving a second off my time for the 3200m run, my event in high school, the one that got me into college, a recruit for someone else to gamble on.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The verdict came just three days after regulators seized Ueno Bank, cutting nearly 3 million customers off from their savings and bank cards and setting off a political crisis.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The little lumberjack walked to the far end of the forest and started cutting.
    — Jeremy Macliver, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • After cutting back foliage and cleaning the bulbs, cure them by air-drying them in a warm, dry spot.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Karen Fernandez, lead esthetician at SkinSpirit, told Byrdie the theory is to let skin rebuild its protective stratum corneum layer, and that cutting back can also help identify products causing irritation or breakouts.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Informal ones have looser requirements and can be pruned once or twice a year with selective thinning and trimming by hand.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2026
  • From Christmas cocktails and tree-trimming ideas to gift wrapping, recipes, and musical moments, each segment adds warmth, fun, and fresh inspiration.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Later that summer, having turned professional, Russell qualified for her first World Championships but crashed out at the semifinals after clipping the second hurdle.
    — Fraser Godden, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The community is highly deferential to Fuentes, O’Brian says, eager to gain his favor by clipping and posting moments from his show or attacking his critics online.
    — Nathan Taylor Pemberton, Vanity Fair, 29 Oct. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Lopping (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lopping%20%28off%29. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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