red-pencil

verb

ˈred-ˌpen(t)-səl How to pronounce red-pencil (audio)
Definition of red-pencilnext
1
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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
  1. amend
  2. censor
  3. correct
  4. shorten
  5. reform
  6. remedy
Verb
  • The city amended its 2023 agreement with Goldenrod in August 2024 to give the company more time to complete the project.
    — Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
  • Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema to amend the filibuster so the party could pass voting rights legislation four years ago, arguing voting rights mattered more than a procedural rule.
    — Juhi Doshi, ABC News, 22 July 2026
Definition of amend
Verb
  • Ana Navarro and Joy Behar were both censored on The View today.
    — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 16 July 2026
  • The lawsuit says the sanctions, triggered by ICC war-crimes probes in Gaza, have forced groups to halt evidence-sharing, cut ties with Palestinian advocates and censor their own speech.
    — Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of censor
Verb
  • Amazon confirmed in a post on X earlier today that the bills were a mistake and that users were not expected to take any action to correct the issue.
    — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 18 July 2026
  • This story has been corrected to show that three Houston Astros pitchers combined on a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers on May 25, not four pitchers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
Definition of correct
Verb
  • Halpin, primarily leaned upon for his speed and defensive prowess, worked with hitting coach Grant Fink between games of a doubleheader Saturday on shortening his swing.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • That approach allows engineers to simplify development and shorten the path to production for platforms that do not require extended service lives.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
Definition of shorten
Verb
  • In fact, Australia’s age limits have already pressured companies to reform their products’ designs.
    — Ravi Iyer, Time, 18 July 2026
  • Resurrection Dex’s Resurrection is an uncomfortably honest and self-critical mixtape about the British rapper attempting to reform his crooked ways.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026
Definition of reform
Verb
  • The product’s ceramide inclusion is also joined by skin care’s workhorse hyaluronic acid, antioxidant-rich vitamins C and E, plus sea buckthorn, which aids with brightening and thereby remedies dark spots.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 17 July 2026
  • Stay prepared for those just-in-case scenarios by stocking everything from itch creams and allergy meds to cold and headache remedies.
    — Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 12 July 2026
Definition of remedy

Browse Nearby Words

redounds
red-pencil
red-penciled
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Cite this Entry

“Red-pencil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red-pencil. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on red-pencil

Nglish: Translation of red-pencil for Spanish Speakers

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