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
  • Just last month the Federal Bureau of Prison’s website readjusted it, shaving a few months off.
    Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026
  • Google’s new phones will have similar shapes, with the Pro and Pro Fold models perhaps shaving off a little thickness.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 7 July 2026
Verb
  • This allows manufacturers to bypass spinning, weaving, cutting or sewing — the multistage process that has defined apparel manufacturing for centuries.
    Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 10 July 2026
  • The federal agency also recommends cutting away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
    Michelle Marchante July 10, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • Another $13 million will be saved mostly by cutting back on contractors from professional services firms and backfilling some roles with its own staff.
    Daniela Sirtori, Fortune, 9 July 2026
  • That could mean cutting back on driving, if that's an option for you.
    Joe Hernandez, NPR, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • Conviction should not prevent an investor from trimming or exiting once the valuation has absorbed the catalyst.
    Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • While some varieties will rebloom without deadheading, trimming fading flowers keeps the flower bed from looking tired.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Leandro Trossard — Belgium/Arsenal (+11) Went from arguing with captain Youri Tielemans during the second hydration break against Senegal to clipping the ball onto his head for a dramatic equaliser that sent the match to extra time.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Ninety-five-year-old Warren Buffett is famous for clipping coupons and living in a modest Nebraska house, despite having $146 billion to his name.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 June 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 15 Jul. 2026.

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