as in abbreviation
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Nigel Vaz, Fortune, 15 Jan. 2026
The next two would be Makima and Aki (with his life-shortening sword).
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 19 Jan. 2026
Transparent reporting inspires buyer confidence and accelerates the often-wrinkly due diligence phase, often shortening transaction timelines and reducing legal costs.
—John Hall, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortening
Noun
At the time, the conversation was framed almost entirely around operational efficiency— reducing friction at check-in, shortening queues, and lowering support costs.
—Nigel Vaz, Fortune, 15 Jan. 2026
The next two would be Makima and Aki (with his life-shortening sword).
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
Chery’s robust manufacturing infrastructure further supports these innovations, shortening the path from R&D to commercialization.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 19 Jan. 2026
Transparent reporting inspires buyer confidence and accelerates the often-wrinkly due diligence phase, often shortening transaction timelines and reducing legal costs.
—John Hall, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortening
Noun
-
The acronym is a direct reference to these textile blends’ chemical abbreviations (polyester and cotton) and the project’s primary goal (upcycling).—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Unfortunately for some, this abbreviation, and others like it, are banned from license plates in North Carolina.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Supporters of the idea say a combined utility would be able to cut costs by reducing the number of employees.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The proposal also establishes more predictable timelines for preparing environmental impact statements, reducing delays and providing greater certainty for both developers and financing partners.—
Carlina Rivera,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Many types of utopias have been articulated in late-modern culture, each one a distillation of some community’s desire for relief from the strictures and curtailments of life’s possibilities.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Dec. 2025
-
Its manifesto centered on curtailment of the power of the railroads, federal loans to aid farmers in debt, and currency reform that entailed reintroducing Hamilton’s old silver dollar alongside the gold dollar to ease monetary conditions, which would give debtors a chance to clear their loans.—
David McWilliams,
Fortune,
16 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Gilbert argues the change simply opens up the position to candidates with experience in government contracting, budgeting and other fiscal matters that are part of an inspector general’s purview.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The company entered the specialty construction space by acquiring Staco, a fast-growing local electrical contracting firm, last September, according to a news release.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And the continent has seen a sharp contraction in new lending from China in recent years.—
Alexis Akwagyiram,
semafor.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
These two months followed six straight months of contractions in demand.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mobilizing Proxies Over the past two years, Israel has battered Iran’s regional network of proxies, significantly curtailing the regime’s ability to project power beyond its borders.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The federal government is curtailing such efforts just as researchers call for more funding and, in some cases, long-term monitoring of people previously infected.—
Stephanie Armour,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Hassan’s team instead squeezed a photon’s intensity and demonstrated real-time control, fluctuating between intensity and phase-squeezing by adjusting the silica’s position relative to the beams.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shortening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortening. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
