curtail

verb

cur·​tail (ˌ)kər-ˈtāl 

curtailed; curtailing; curtails

transitive verb

: to make less by or as if by cutting off or away some part

curtail the power of the executive branch

curtail inflation

Some school activities are being curtailed due to a lack of funds.

curtailer

(ˌ)kər-ˈtā-lər 

noun

Synonyms

• abbreviate
• abridge
• cut back
• dock
• elide
• shorten
• syncopate
• truncate

Choose the Right Synonym for curtail

shorten, curtail, abbreviate, abridge, retrench mean to reduce in extent.

shorten implies reduction in length or duration.

shorten a speech

curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy.

ceremonies curtailed because of rain

abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part.

using an abbreviated title

abridge implies a reduction in compass or scope with retention of essential elements and a relative completeness in the result.

the abridged version of the novel

retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive.

declining business forced the company to retrench

Examples of curtail in a Sentence

The new laws are an effort to curtail illegal drug use.

School activities are being curtailed due to a lack of funds.

Recent Examples on the Web

Small-business owners like him were most affected by the Modi government’s mistakes, such as the surprise decision in 2016 to cancel large-currency banknotes, a misguided effort to curtail money laundering that left ordinary people desperate for cash. —Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025

The sector came into the spotlight after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump vowed to curtail renewable energy subsidies. —Amala Balakrishner, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2025

In a bid to curtail electronic waste, the EU required manufacturers to ensure that devices such as cameras, phones and tablets all used the same charging port (and therefore cable): USB-C. Apple initially resisted this move, saying that such a requirement could stifle creativity. —David Phelan, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024

If there is genuine political will in the new Trump administration to attain a sustainable peace in Ukraine, Washington can selectively apply the carrots and sticks of global trade to maximize pressure on U.S. allies and strategic foes to do more to curtail Russia. —Alina Polyakova, Foreign Affairs, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

by folk etymology from earlier curtal to dock an animal's tail, from curtal, noun, animal with a docked tail, from Middle French courtault — more at curtal

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

curtail

verb

cur·​tail (ˌ)kər-ˈtā(ə)l 

: to make less by or as if by cutting off part of

curtailer

-ˈtā-lər 

noun

curtailment

-ˈtāl-mənt

noun