as in deductions
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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Recent Examples of subtractions
What many people don’t realize is that the academic subject of mathematics is not about doing quick sums and subtractions in your head.
—
Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 26 May 2026
The Tribune is tracking the major roster additions, subtractions and announcements of local teams.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
It’s now owned by Bacardi, and the lineup has seen some additions and subtractions over the past few years.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2026
Those three subtractions from the Texas roster happened over the first three days of the portal's 15-day window.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026
And at 27-22, the Warriors were already in need of additions, not subtractions, for a real chance at a deep playoff run.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
The factors considered when assigning the grade for future outlook were potential new voices/subtractions in the front office and coaching staff, cap space to work with this offseason and draft picks available in 2026 and 2027.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Everything has fallen into place this offseason as the Nuggets prepare to hold their media day on Monday, starting with the subtractions.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
Now, last minute additions (and subtractions), especially with really large yachts like MAR are pretty common at this stage before the show.
—Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 26 May 2026
The Tribune is tracking the major roster additions, subtractions and announcements of local teams.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
It’s now owned by Bacardi, and the lineup has seen some additions and subtractions over the past few years.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2026
Those three subtractions from the Texas roster happened over the first three days of the portal's 15-day window.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026
And at 27-22, the Warriors were already in need of additions, not subtractions, for a real chance at a deep playoff run.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
The factors considered when assigning the grade for future outlook were potential new voices/subtractions in the front office and coaching staff, cap space to work with this offseason and draft picks available in 2026 and 2027.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Everything has fallen into place this offseason as the Nuggets prepare to hold their media day on Monday, starting with the subtractions.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
Now, last minute additions (and subtractions), especially with really large yachts like MAR are pretty common at this stage before the show.
—Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtractions
Noun
-
Adapting the private-sector pay structure for all work in prison could result in fair wages – that’s if deductions are revised to be fair as well.—
Julia Bowling,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
-
The 1% floor on corporate deductions stacks directly against the existing 10% cap.—
Matthew F. Erskine,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Eco effort The hotel is marching along a path to zero-landfill waste, helped in part by reductions in single-use plastics and paper materials, plus a swift recycling program.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Crucially, the military should balance these financials with attractive inducements such as robust family health care coverage, prescription drug cost reductions, and partial pension possibilities for those who provide vital service short of a full 20-year career.—
Robert Krasner,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subtractions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtractions. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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