as in defeat
failure to win a contest
our football team suffered a pretty severe trimming
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in mastering
to achieve a victory over
a speed skater who consistently trimmed all his competition
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in whipping
to defeat by a large margin
they trimmed our team by 40 points
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in shaving
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument
trimmed her bangs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in decorating
to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming
trim a tree for Christmas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in organizing
to make neat
trimmed the shrubbery in order to enhance the house's curb appeal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trimming
Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
Instead, focus will turn to projects like tree trimming and brush work.
—Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Oracle Park roared to life in the bottom of the fifth as San Francisco’s offense finally got to Alcantara, trimming the deficit to 8-3 as Drew Gilbert, Eric Haase and Luis Arraez all drove in a run apiece.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trimming
Noun
The Club on Monday took advantage of the latest win streak to do some trimming, booking some profits in Goldman Sachs after two separate buys during its mid-March pullback.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
Instead, focus will turn to projects like tree trimming and brush work.
—Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
This is not a matter of trimming excess.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Oracle Park roared to life in the bottom of the fifth as San Francisco’s offense finally got to Alcantara, trimming the deficit to 8-3 as Drew Gilbert, Eric Haase and Luis Arraez all drove in a run apiece.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trimming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trimming
Noun
-
The margin for error is so little in the South Coast League that a hit here, an error there, can be the difference between victory and defeat.—
Martin Henderson,
Oc Register,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Scratch him behind the ears and say Good boy over and over so the horse might tire of hearing it, but Pal never would, crunching his peppermint in sweet victory—even defeat.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Across industries — creative, legal, financial, technical — the systems people like myself spent careers mastering are being rewritten.—
Matti Yahav,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Regardless of their final career path, every intern's first assignment is learning to be a docent, mastering the art of guiding visitors on a tour.—
La'Tasha Givens,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If the frosting seems soft and dense, give it a chill before whipping again.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Later that evening, three rounds of hail inundated the house, followed by two bouts of whipping winds.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There have been scores of game-fixing and point-shaving scandals, notably involving the 1950 NCAA champion City College of New York, the 1978–79 Boston College men’s basketball team, and, in the 2000s, Arizona State men’s basketball.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Very often, the home seller and listing agent will ask for a very short timeline, removing the financing contingency (the full loan approval), shaving 10 days from the process with a closing in 21 days.—
Jeff Lazerson,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No detail was spared with Louis Vuitton tableware decorating every dining experience from lunches to dinners.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
1 May 2026
-
Take Inspiration from Cherished Memories Barry's decorating style is largely influenced by her family and childhood.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Parents are also organizing a bake sale at the event, and a direct donation campaign is underway.—
Amy Stark Shireman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
During Barack Obama’s presidency, conservative funders invested in grassroots organizing to beat the left’s turnout and persuasion machines.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
With the addition of the right proteins at the right time, these stem cells can be prompted to grow in labs into beating, three-dimensional heart organoids in just a couple of weeks.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
-
Incidents, many caught on video, include shootings, beatings, arson, land destruction, livestock theft and intimidation.—
Molly Hunter,
NBC news,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Swalwell won his congressional race, defeating a 40-year incumbent more than double his age, and grew his national profile by connecting with young voters on social media.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
-
In all, according to a tally from AdImpact, nearly $7 million has been spent on TV ads this year in Indiana state senate races, the bulk of it aimed at defeating the Republicans who voted against the redrawn congressional maps.—
Tamara Keith,
NPR,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trimming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trimming. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
