RED-PENCIL Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

red-pencil

verb

ˈred-ˌpen(t)-səl

Definition of red-pencil

as in to amend

to remove errors, defects, deficiencies, or deviations from the magazine claims that every article is red-penciled by a team of fact checkers before it ever sees the light of print

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as in to censor

to remove objectionable parts from a television script that had been heavily red-penciled in abject surrender to political correctness

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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.

Recent Examples of red-pencil The book is a literary arrangement of sparring between D’Agata and Fingal, consisting of a draft of D’Agata’s text red-pencilled by editors and extensive correspondence between the two writers. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for red-pencil

Verb

The legislation would amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to create federal photo ID standards for in-person and vote-by-mail.

— Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026
In her new ruling obtained by Rolling Stone, the judge said Evans appeared to have been angered by Voletta’s decision, just weeks before her death, to amend her trust and remove CJ as a co-trustee.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of amend

Verb

Broadcast stations do have some authority to censor political ads.

— Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
When that ability gets constrained, when communication feels censored, when speed is prized over rigor, when ambiguity gets exploited instead of clarified, the meaning of the work itself starts to erode.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of censor

Verb

In July, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health also cited Lineage for rodent and pest-control violations, fining the company $500 per day until the violations were corrected.

— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Jesus’ teachings and healing works confirm that negative suggestions can be corrected, not by trying not to think about them, but by turning our attention to and replacing them with God’s thoughts.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of correct

Verb

Amnesty International has urged Syria to end trials in absentia and the use of the death penalty, incorporate crimes under international law into domestic legislation and reform the judiciary.

— Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
The group notes other states, such as Illinois, New Jersey and New York have either reformed or ended cash bail.

— Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of reform

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redounds

red-pencil

red-penciled

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“Red-pencil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red-pencil. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of red-pencil

verb

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