shortening 1 of 2

noun

Definition of shorteningnext
as in abbreviation

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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
The inaccuracies of the old map include the shortening of Africa, and the relative expansion of North America and Eurasia. — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 19 Sep. 2026 When heated, calcium carbonate forms solid scale inside water heaters, coffee makers and pipes, reducing efficiency and shortening equipment life. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
As an investor at Point72, the hedge fund of billionaire Steve Cohen, Shaffer watched Wall Street turn private fund shares into digital tokens without shortening investors’ waits to cash out. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026 The mission definitely succeeded, shortening the little asteroid's orbit around a larger rock called Didymos by about 33 minutes. — Meghan Bartels, Space.com, 14 Oct. 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
  • Doctors Without Borders, known by its French abbreviation MSF, said more than 20 wounded people were brought to Ameth Bek Hospital, where MSF teams were working alongside staff from South Sudan’s Health Ministry.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
  • But in the Pentagon’s email system, Kollitides’ name now carries an abbreviation signifying he has been designated an HQE, or highly qualified expert.
    — Aaron Davis, ProPublica, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of abbreviation
Verb
  • Gupta estimated that reducing formation time by half or more could lower overall factory electricity use by 10% to 15%.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Slowing or reducing the demand for that subsidy seems appropriate in my view.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 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
  • These scaly reptiles move by alternating contracting muscles on either side of their body.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Marlin Stoltzfus is a contractor and the owner of MKS Construction LLC and has over 20 years of experience in roofing, general contracting, remodeling, and new home construction.
    — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 28 Oct. 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
  • Piezoelectric generators are particularly attractive for implants because the body is constantly moving, from the expansion and contraction of the lungs to the rhythmic beating of the heart.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The method, called contraction-aware reinforcement learning, is designed for robots with different forms of movement, including wheeled, flying, and six-legged platforms.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of contraction
Verb
  • In October alone, Houthi missile strikes on Saudi airports have killed at least 21 people and wounded hundreds, forcing authorities to shut down operations in the country’s main international airport in Riyadh and curtailing travel in others.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Iran is now stepping up attacks on tankers transiting Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, curtailing the volume of oil exiting the region and keeping global crude prices north of $100 a barrel.
    — Lou Robinson, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of curtailing

Browse Nearby Words

shortened
shortening
shortenings
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Cite this Entry

“Shortening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortening. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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