Synonyms of subtracting

subtracting

verb

present participle of subtract

as in deducting

to take away (an amount or number) from a total

if you subtract 10 from 23, you get 13

you can subtract the time you spent daydreaming from your total homework time

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deducting
• reducing
• discounting
• decreasing
• taking off
• cutting
• abating
• diminishing
• slashing
• lowering
• clipping
• downsizing
• lessening
• dwindling
• knocking off
• shortening
• paring
• cutting down
• trimming
• cropping
• pruning
• curtailing
• abridging
• truncating
• knocking down
• whittling
• cutting back
• abbreviating
• docking
• retrenching

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adding
• adjoining
• tacking (on)
• supplementing
• appending
• annexing
• complementing
• increasing
• multiplying
• enhancing
• intensifying
• expanding
• magnifying
• augmenting
• enlarging
• heightening
• raising
• amplifying
• escalating
• compounding
• boosting
• beefing (up)
• aggrandizing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of subtracting

Because time is finite, adding one thing means subtracting another. — Melody Wilding, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026

Back in the early spring, the idea of subtracting a durable 33-game starter (and a former second-round pick) from a defensive line that seemed to be an area of major concern for the Bears would have been unthinkable. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Not to be outdone, math-magicians on Capitol Hill have been busily subtracting workdays. — Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026

That’s after excluding wealth from the top 1% of households, subtracting debts and other liabilities, and deducting retirement spending, charitable donations, taxes, and fees. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

If employees cannot function well when the system is unavailable, the technology is subtracting value even as the metrics suggest otherwise. — Mohamed Khater, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Days later, the contract was amended with one change, subtracting a single dollar, dropping it to $249,999 — one dollar below the threshold requiring City Council approval. — Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026

For example, a card with a $95 annual fee that earns $580 in cash back over the course of a year leaves you $485 ahead after subtracting the fee. — Miranda Marquit, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026