shortening 1 of 2

noun

Definition of shorteningnext
as in abbreviation

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

shortening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of shorten
as in reducing
to make less in extent or duration we decided to shorten the distance we had to walk home by cutting across the neighbor's lawn if Grandma has to go shopping today, you'll need to shorten your visit

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 shortening
Noun
Sky observers say the Fourth of July is when the shortening of days becomes noticeably more rapid. — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 4 July 2026 These large-range movements keep your body moving through the stretch, shortening and lengthening your muscles. — Hannah Harper, Health, 1 July 2026
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 The commission also recommended, as an alternative, shortening the arch itself while making the gilded statue even taller—a compromise that would leave the arch squat beneath a top-heavy sculpture. — Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shortening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortening
  1. abbreviation
  2. reducing
  3. curtailment
  4. abbreviating
  5. contracting
  6. truncating
  7. contraction
  8. curtailing
Noun
  • Yet when the latter is replaced by the abbreviation algol (Algorithmic Language), a whole other order of reference comes into view, involving celestial movements and mythic monstrosities.
    — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The recall notice includes brand abbreviations and some product descriptions, including use-by dates, but does not mention specific retailers, restaurants or product names.
    — Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Definition of abbreviation
Verb
  • Rising adoption of rooftop and distributed solar systems in South Africa is reducing national grid demand, squeezing utilities’ revenues and prompting interest in diversification.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The goal is of course, to get more long-term LA Metro riders, but also by reducing cars on the road, traffic flow improves and vehicle emissions drop, said LA Metro.
    — Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of reducing
Noun
  • Such environmental waivers are not arbitrary decisions but legal mechanisms, ordered by local authorities, to prevent grid instability, for example when loss of wind generation would be exacerbated by curtailment of thermal plants.
    — Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • This can reduce the strain on the electric grid and help prevent the need for involuntary power curtailment or power brownouts, Holran notes.
    — Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 21 June 2026
Definition of curtailment
Verb
  • But by the time Forrest reaches age 10, when dogs become eligible for Loyal’s pill, those defenses will more often misfire and fail to stop not just cancer but also other life-abbreviating ailments.
    — Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
  • Edo also followed Prince William and Kate Middleton's lead with the sweet sign off for his latest social post by abbreviating the children's first names with their initials to send an online message.
    — Janine Henni, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Definition of abbreviating
Noun
  • That phrase appears in a contracting document for Acentra Health that was first reported on by independent journalists through the newsletter Popular Information.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Carla Chiorazzo was appointed CFO of Adolfson & Peterson Construction, a national construction management and contracting firm.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of contracting
Verb
  • When the vintage Danish armchairs arrived, their legs were exposed, says Moser, and Shetty pointed out that on screen, this had the effect of truncating guests’ legs.
    — Genevieve Walker, Architectural Digest, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The Phillies are truncating his outings — his max pitch count has been 70 — to extend his season longer.
    — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of truncating
Noun
  • Then, as deregulation and contraction brought cost-cutting, more stations farmed out traffic coverage to the point that large numbers of radio stations get reports from people not even in their cities.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The public market has not yet been asked, and the one adjacent listing it was asked about, Circle, drew a Morgan Stanley downgrade on USDC contraction within a year of its euphoric debut.
    — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of contraction
Verb
  • Both Carlson and Piker have recognized that people increasingly see the establishment — including politicians, police forces and the tech sector — as interested in curtailing people’s freedom.
    — T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • In 2018, the DNC reformed its primaries on Sanders’s preferred terms, curtailing the role of superdelegates.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of curtailing

Browse Nearby Words

shortened
shortening
shortenings
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shortening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortening. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on shortening

Nglish: Translation of shortening for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shortening

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gnomic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All