as in deduction
the act or an instance of taking away from a total
the restaurant may not have raised the price, but there's definitely been a subtraction in the number of fries in a side order
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of subtraction
However, the small subtraction made the shorter version feel even sleeker.
—
Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
Recipients in some states qualify for a Social Security income subtraction when filing their state tax return.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
But if Brown is that unhappy with his status on the team, perhaps moving him would be addition by subtraction, as Florio suggested.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Vesia’s subtraction from the bullpen adds further uncertainty to the Dodgers’ most vulnerable area.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtraction
Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
Recipients in some states qualify for a Social Security income subtraction when filing their state tax return.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
But if Brown is that unhappy with his status on the team, perhaps moving him would be addition by subtraction, as Florio suggested.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Vesia’s subtraction from the bullpen adds further uncertainty to the Dodgers’ most vulnerable area.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtraction
Noun
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However, the structure of these tax breaks, particularly changes to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction caps, suggests that middle- and higher-income households will reap most of the benefits.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
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Players began playing Mafia, a deduction game in which two groups compete against each other.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Most executive conversations about AI focus on risk, regulation, or cost reduction.—
David Heacock,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
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Improvements like reduction in poverty and crime come when households are stable and not deprived of basic necessities.—
Mansoor Shams,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subtraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtraction. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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