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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lopping (off)
Verb
  • Try roasting it with olive oil and salt, sautéing it and adding it to a pasta or grain bowl, or shaving it with a vegetable peeler and adding the raw strips to a salad for some crunch.
    Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 20 July 2026
  • And while the results last much longer than shaving, each session typically takes more time, especially when treating larger areas like the legs.
    Iman Balagam, Vogue, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Seattle kept it close, cutting the lead to single digits in the fourth quarter before Atlanta held firm.
    Christopher Harris, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The workshops include all ingredients and participants learn skills such as cutting and folding meats, placement and spacing for jams and honeys.
    Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • Regularly cutting back on sleep could cause the number on the scale to creep up, according to new research.
    Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026
  • Many households, especially higher-income ones, are cutting back on discretionary purchases, while lower-income families contend with rising prices.
    Joan Verdon, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Verb
  • Stand remaining split ladyfingers around sides of pan, trimming to fit, if necessary.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 July 2026
  • Do provide needed trimming to reduce the height and width of coleus as needed.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026
Verb
  • Miller said his dad used to sit in his firehouse, clipping newspaper stories on dark matter and black holes to send to his son.
    Lisa Song, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
  • For your cooking needs, harvest a couple of sprigs at any point during the growing season by clipping away a few branches.
    Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 July 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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lopping (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lopping%20%28off%29. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!