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
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Recent Examples of subtracting
Heating Degree Days are calculated by taking the day's high temperature and adding it to the day's low temperature, then dividing by 2 and subtracting that value from 65.
—
Irene Wright, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Philadelphia was in a bit of a pickle in figuring out how to get under the luxury tax at next week’s trade deadline without subtracting key players.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
That’s subtracting a state’s exits from its arrivals.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
After subtracting the sale price, the arbitrator awarded Mötley Crüe a net payment of $244,293.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2026
But subtracting one or more of the pending UFAs, particularly on defense, could hamper the Sharks’ ability to make the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Every correct prediction is awarded a different number of points, calculated by subtracting the age of the deceased from 105.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
But, Montreal was able to add Danault without subtracting anyone because the Canadiens had the cap space to do it.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
True productivity requires us to stop subtracting humans and start solving for the convergence of equity, economics, and engineering.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
Irene Wright, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Philadelphia was in a bit of a pickle in figuring out how to get under the luxury tax at next week’s trade deadline without subtracting key players.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
That’s subtracting a state’s exits from its arrivals.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
After subtracting the sale price, the arbitrator awarded Mötley Crüe a net payment of $244,293.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2026
But subtracting one or more of the pending UFAs, particularly on defense, could hamper the Sharks’ ability to make the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Every correct prediction is awarded a different number of points, calculated by subtracting the age of the deceased from 105.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
But, Montreal was able to add Danault without subtracting anyone because the Canadiens had the cap space to do it.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
True productivity requires us to stop subtracting humans and start solving for the convergence of equity, economics, and engineering.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtracting
deducting
Verb
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Rather than deducting expenses, the 70% split remaining with the league would be used to cover costs.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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In addition, Dawson evaded paying state taxes and payroll taxes by failing to file the necessary tax returns, while deducting payroll taxes from the teachers’ paychecks and using those deductions for himself, the criminal complaint alleges.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subtracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtracting. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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