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
The addition of one Utah tight end, however, meant the subtraction of another.
—
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
The subtraction is only to prevent double-counting, though, since those purchases are already covered in the other terms of the equation.
—The Editors, National Review, 1 May 2025
That subtraction should free most sports games up to fully take advantage of the PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X and the new Nintendo Switch.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Vancouver’s back end has looked far more mobile and competent moving the puck since the arrival of Marcus Pettersson, the subtraction of Vincent Desharnais and the call-up of defenceman Elias Pettersson.
—Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtraction
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
The subtraction is only to prevent double-counting, though, since those purchases are already covered in the other terms of the equation.
—The Editors, National Review, 1 May 2025
That subtraction should free most sports games up to fully take advantage of the PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X and the new Nintendo Switch.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Vancouver’s back end has looked far more mobile and competent moving the puck since the arrival of Marcus Pettersson, the subtraction of Vincent Desharnais and the call-up of defenceman Elias Pettersson.
—Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtraction
Noun
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The Senate version of the bill would also permanently extend and modify the depreciation deduction for businesses.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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Other tax cuts, credits and gifts In addition to extending the tax cuts from the 2017 tax bill, the House version would give people who live in high-tax states such as California, New York and New Jersey a bigger income tax deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT.—
Jim Sergent,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
Noun
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The department has provided no explanation for the slow progress in getting through PSLF Buyback applications, although it could be related to substantial staff reductions at the Department of Education ordered by the Trump administration earlier this year.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
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The reductions have been championed by the new leadership inside the Justice Department.—
June 17,
CBS News,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subtraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtraction. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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