Synonyms of shortens

shortens

verb

present tense third-person singular of shorten

as in reduces

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

• reduces
• curtails
• truncates
• abbreviates
• abridges
• decreases
• elides
• cuts back
• compresses
• summarizes
• docks
• trims
• syncopates
• modifies
• recapitulates
• encapsulates
• diminishes
• epitomizes
• constricts
• sums up
• lessens
• lowers
• shrinks
• digests
• cuts down
• pares
• cuts
• downsizes
• prunes
• dwindles
• tapers
• abates
• slashes
• abstracts
• contracts
• deflates
• retrenches
• subtracts (from)
• moderates
• de-escalates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extends
• lengthens
• prolongs
• elongates
• expands
• increases
• enlarges
• adds
• maximizes
• supplements
• augments
• heightens
• raises
• amplifies
• dilates
• protracts
• boosts
• escalates
• inflates
• swells
• distends
• blows up
• aggrandizes
• pumps up
• balloons

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shortens

Mechanical recycling shortens cotton fibers, and the company recommends combining them with carrier fibers to maintain the quality and performance of finished textiles. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Hot water can cause shrinking, fraying, and pilling, which shortens the lifespan of your towels. — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026

If a stage is a tenth of the path, then even cutting it to zero shortens the path by a tenth at most. — Illia Smoliienko, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Running them through the washer too frequently breaks down elastic and shortens their usable life. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026

That arrangement shortens the distance that signals need to travel between processing components. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026

Uneven tire wear that shortens tire life and affects handling. — Michael Kurko, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

And choosing a washer with a higher spin speed (up to about 1,000 RPM) removes more water before drying, which shortens air-dry time significantly. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2026

Browning the meat first not only builds flavor on its exterior but also shortens the overall cooking time. — Kate Williams, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026