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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lopping (off)
Verb
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Analysts estimate the shutdown is shaving billions off the gross domestic product each week and has left around 803,000 federal workers furloughed or working without pay—many of them lower-wage employees.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025 -
No other manager has reached that figure in a quicker time, with the Spaniard shaving 55 matches off Sir Alex Ferguson’s previous 404-game record pace.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Portley scored from the 1-yard line — his third touchdown on his third carry — cutting the lead to 39-29.—
Jordan Neal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Oct. 2025
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Phoenix clawed their way back into the game in the third quarter, cutting the Aces lead to just 12 behind forward Kahleah Copper scoring 12 of her 30 points in the period.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Just in time for spooky gatherings, Friendsgiving feasts, and holiday baking marathons, Sam’s Club is cutting back its membership prices.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
6 Oct. 2025
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His crossing has often been a source of frustration, sometimes ballooning the ball too often, taking too long to put it into the area or cutting back on himself hesitantly.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Dividend cuts ‘would send shivers through Wall Street’ Clark Williams-Derry, energy finance analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), a non-profit organization, said trimming the share buybacks is likely Big Oil’s easiest option.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
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While holiday spending is expected to rise overall—especially for essential goods such as groceries, which are projected to increase by 23 percent—many shoppers are trimming their budgets in other areas.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Next to a wooden model of an ibis and a Brazil shirt signed by 1994 World Cup winner Ricardo Rocha is a small newspaper clipping.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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Tie branches with twine and add evergreen tassels, then insert photos in the branches, clipping them on, if needed, to hold in place.—
Emily Williams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Oct. 2025
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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 18 Oct. 2025.
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