as in abbreviation
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shortening
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 31 Mar. 2026
That only increased existing scrutiny of Davis’ coaching decisions — such as shortening his second-half rotation to have four players play all 20 second-half minutes — as well as his terse and awkward responses afterward.
—Aaron Beard, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortening
Noun
If stiffness appears after walks, shortening outings can help keep the experience positive for both dog and owner.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
Climate change complicates forecasting All this is playing out against the backdrop of climate change, which is shortening winters and turning up the heat.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 31 Mar. 2026
That only increased existing scrutiny of Davis’ coaching decisions — such as shortening his second-half rotation to have four players play all 20 second-half minutes — as well as his terse and awkward responses afterward.
—Aaron Beard, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortening
Noun
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Another, Southwestern Bell, later SBC, actually bought AT&T in 2005 and kept the name — an abbreviation of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company dating to 1885.—
Thomas C. Zambito,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
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The party is an Iranian-Kurdish nationalist separatist group known by the local abbreviation PAK.—
Samya Kullab,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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MacRumors thinks this could end up reducing the thickness of the iPhone’s display stack while improving brightness and minimizing power use.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
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The Airhart ethos is focused on reducing the cognitive drain on the pilot.—
David Szondy
April 25,
New Atlas,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In exchange for the curtailment of some freedoms, the people submit to an authority, thereby gaining protection and security.—
George G. Szpiro,
Big Think,
9 Apr. 2026
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The disruption reflects a broader curtailment of Holy Week traditions.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
Noun
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With guidance from a composites specialist contracting for SpaceX, Hazan was able to precisely control resin ratios and structural integrity.—
Eric Hendrikx,
Robb Report,
22 Apr. 2026
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Roza also said the growth in district contracting over the past several years cannot be separated from the flood of temporary federal relief money schools received during the pandemic.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The longtime illusion of a mainstream industry involved truncating both ends of the bell curve, the radical and the mercenary.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Expansion and contraction is what creates potholes.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
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Beets also contain nitrates, which the body converts to nitric oxide and uses to help increase blood flow throughout the body and improve the efficiency of skeletal muscle contraction, Collen says.—
Desireé Oostland,
Vogue,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Instead of curtailing the spending spree, the City Council put a sales tax hike on the November 2024 ballot.—
Mark Powell,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
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War has a way of curtailing imagination.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortening. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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