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
Taking zinc on the first day symptoms appear shortens the duration of respiratory viruses, such as the common cold and COVID-19.
—
Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 7 Jan. 2026
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, 3 Jan. 2026
The fuel pump is cooled by gasoline in the fuel tank, driving with very little fuel allows the fuel pump to get hot and shortens its life.
—John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2026
Critics argue the schedule shortens the product life of existing models, especially standard iPhones that see limited year-to-year changes.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
The address bar often shortens URLs, and the screen leaves little room for close inspection.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
Their offense shortens the game, keeping the team’s defense fresh.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Dec. 2025
Air pollution has been declining in the West for years but still likely shortens lives by several months in big cities.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 15 Dec. 2025
The platform’s integration of Makera CAM and machine control shortens the operational path, while its mobile-friendly UI ensures smooth operation from anywhere.
—New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2025
Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 7 Jan. 2026
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, 3 Jan. 2026
The fuel pump is cooled by gasoline in the fuel tank, driving with very little fuel allows the fuel pump to get hot and shortens its life.
—John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2026
Critics argue the schedule shortens the product life of existing models, especially standard iPhones that see limited year-to-year changes.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
The address bar often shortens URLs, and the screen leaves little room for close inspection.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
Their offense shortens the game, keeping the team’s defense fresh.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Dec. 2025
Air pollution has been declining in the West for years but still likely shortens lives by several months in big cities.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 15 Dec. 2025
The platform’s integration of Makera CAM and machine control shortens the operational path, while its mobile-friendly UI ensures smooth operation from anywhere.
—New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortens
Verb
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This enables continuous charging and reduces the need for large onboard batteries.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
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As a stocky playmaker who rarely sprints and often reduces the game to walking pace in an increasingly breakneck sport populated by iron men, Cherki’s timing of arrival into English football is where the dichotomy lies.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Such a reading of the law at the center of the case could provide Trump an opening -- along with other tariffs that have not been challenged in court -- to continue his global-trotting mission to reshape trade imbalances, even if the high court curtails his broad tariff power.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
5 Nov. 2025
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Where To Stay in Martin County With a strict ban on buildings over four stories, the Treasure Coast curtails the kind of over development that can choke out some Florida beach towns.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
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.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This risk decreases as the storm moves away.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Jan. 2026
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Prescribed medication is used to manage discomfort, which usually decreases noticeably after the first week.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortens. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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