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
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Recent Examples of shortens
Unfiltered water, Adams insists, leads to sediment buildup in your water heater, which shortens its lifespan and lessens its heating efficiency.
—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
28 June 2026
But for patients who don’t mind the idea of letting a tiny robot into their mouth, there may be a new approach that shortens and simplifies the overall process.
—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
25 June 2026
That level of control shortens development schedules and eliminates many procurement delays that slow traditional defense programs.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
23 June 2026
That increases visibility and shortens the time needed to attract qualified applicants.
—
Audrey Payne,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Dropping three at once and then one episode per week shortens that by a couple weeks.
—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Because the 49ers abd Rams play on the NFL’s first Thursday Night Football game, that shortens Kittle’s runway.
—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
Using Samaniego to start the game, though, shortens an already thin bullpen.
—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Clearing out clogs helps the machine run more efficiently, reduces wear and tear, and shortens drying times.
—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 May 2026
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
28 June 2026
But for patients who don’t mind the idea of letting a tiny robot into their mouth, there may be a new approach that shortens and simplifies the overall process.
—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
25 June 2026
That level of control shortens development schedules and eliminates many procurement delays that slow traditional defense programs.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
23 June 2026
That increases visibility and shortens the time needed to attract qualified applicants.
—
Audrey Payne,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Dropping three at once and then one episode per week shortens that by a couple weeks.
—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Because the 49ers abd Rams play on the NFL’s first Thursday Night Football game, that shortens Kittle’s runway.
—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
Using Samaniego to start the game, though, shortens an already thin bullpen.
—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Clearing out clogs helps the machine run more efficiently, reduces wear and tear, and shortens drying times.
—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortens
Verb
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Good posture helps prevent aches in the back, neck and shoulders, reduces joint wear and lowers the risk of sports injuries, according to Cleveland Clinic.
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Skipping the stove and oven also reduces indoor heat, so lean on cold sandwiches, salads and no-cook meals during the worst hours.
Verb
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India’s neighbors are seeking additional fuel from New Delhi as the war in the Middle East curtails access to energy supplies from the Persian Gulf, giving Asia’s third-largest economy an opportunity to build goodwill across the region.
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Advertisement The court's decision not only curtails a policy Trump has repeatedly credited with strengthening American leverage abroad, but also carries major financial and legal consequences.
Verb
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That’s a tactic city financers used on several other bond projects as well, said Molly Scarbrough, a deputy program manager for the Denver GO Bond Program, which abbreviates general obligation bond.
Verb
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Previous research has demonstrated that direct exposure to nature significantly reduces physiological stress, lowers heart rates and decreases levels of stress hormones, like cortisol.
-
This risk decreases as the storm moves away.
Cite this Entry
“Shortens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortens. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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