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
  • Despite frustration that the Legislature amended his original plan by protecting property taxes for schools, the governor still advocated for the amendment.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The amendment asked voters whether the Minnesota Constitution should be amended to increase the funding going to all school districts from the permanent school fund.
    — Jason Rantala, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of amend
Verb
  • The film came out highly censored in 1971, and only recently had its most salacious bits recovered from the archives and restored to their fleshy glory.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
  • But on the television broadcast that aired on Saturday, Antonia’s T-shirt had been censored, appearing to be all white.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of censor
Verb
  • Without a mechanism to correct these errors, the inaccurate information could remain in the robot’s memory and affect subsequent decisions.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • An overconfident driver can follow too closely, carry too much speed into a curve or assume technology will correct a bad decision.
    — Chris Hardesty, AJC.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of correct
Verb
  • Their defense has excelled against the pass and their running game is good enough to shorten the game.
    — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Now is a good time to shorten long, lanky canes that can whip around in Santa Ana and winter winds.
    — Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of shorten
Verb
  • Attempts to reform and expedite the appeals process over the years have further gummed up the system.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Across the country, Democrats stood up for big policy changes like increasing the federal minimum wage, expanding child care, reining in Big Tech, data centers, and AI, and reforming health care.
    — Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Time, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of reform
Verb
  • To remedy the issue, your county elections office will provide you with a form to fill out and return completed.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • For years, federal lawmakers have tried to remedy this issue, said Sabrina Corlette, a research professor and co-director of Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms.
    — Stephanie O'Neill, NPR, 21 Oct. 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 10 Nov. 2026.

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