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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lopping (off)
Verb
  • After finally shaving his beard off, Colbert concluded the interview by gifting Kimmel something special from his show.
    — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Colbert had no hesitation about taking the tool to his facial hair, shaving it off and returning to his recognizable clean-shaven look.
    — Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Three people were arrested earlier this week after Woodland police found heavy-gauge copper wire and cutting tools in their vehicle near a community center where wiring had been stolen from about 10 light poles, authorities said.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • My focus is cutting traffic gridlock through AI light synchronization, equipping police with advanced tech, protecting residential zoning against over-development, and streamlining municipal permitting with strict fiscal accountability.
    — Miami Herald staff, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • This is somewhat detrimental to the development of Karen, since cutting back and forth interrupts the flow of her epistolary relationship with Wilson, whose stories morph into intimate letters.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
  • In drier climates, cutting back on outdoor irrigation makes a noticeable difference too.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In the most recent two years, the Democrat believed the county was cutting into bone rather than trimming fat.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2026
  • That means inspecting flood control and drainage systems, trimming trees that could knock down power lines during high winds, and reinforcing or maintaining infrastructure such as dams, stormwater channels, roads and bridges.
    — Bethany Tietjen, The Conversation, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Decades later, a relative sent Dottie a newspaper clipping about the Foster study, which included an archival photo of her grandmother.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Brands, including sports leagues, understand that content clipping is both a marketing strategy and a way to engage with new and established audiences.
    — Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 14 Sep. 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 28 Sep. 2026.

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