cutting back 1 of 2

noun

Definition of cutting backnext
as in ungenerosity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cutting back

2 of 2

verb

present participle of cut back
1
as in shaving
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument we need to cut back the bushes a bit so that the house number is visible from the street

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shortening
to make less in extent or duration cut back the meeting so everyone could leave early for the long weekend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutting back
  1. shortening
  2. selfishness
  3. trimming
  4. clipping
  5. economy
  6. saving
  7. thrift
  8. parsimony
Verb
  • Notably, the musicians pared the song down for its late-night debut, shortening it from 13 minutes to five.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Jupiter is just a week past its annual opposition, which sees it at its brightest and best for 13 months as Earth gets in between it and the sun, shortening the distance.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Definition of shortening
Noun
  • His selfishness ran counterintuitive to the label’s ethos, which Faith Evans described as being familial.
    Jayson Rodriguez, Variety, 18 Nov. 2024
  • But that would just be a less destructive version of Bezos’s selfishness.
    Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2024
Definition of selfishness
Verb
  • Kardashian crawled passed a donkey next to the Virgin Mary, Jesus raiding the refrigerator and a woman trimming a Christmas tree.
    Janelle Ash, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Hill switched from defensive tackle to tight end this past spring, trimming more than 30 pounds.
    Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of trimming
Verb
  • And the itemizing of it, breaking it up, short form, the clipping it out.
    Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 18 Dec. 2024
  • No one can explain why his condition isn’t improving, but Dexter begins to pick up on some clues, namely that Nurse Mary is clipping obituaries from the newspaper.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of clipping
Noun
  • More easing ahead Policymakers have begun voicing their plans for 2025 in recent weeks, well aware of the fact that Trump’s return to the White House will place considerable strain on an already ailing economy.
    Reuters, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Key factors in the growth of emissions include population growth, rising income levels, and a surge in travel demand among emerging economies.
    Carlton Reid, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Definition of economy
Noun
  • Set clear goals for financial stability, pay down debt by prioritizing a debt repayment strategy, and rebuild savings.
    Melissa Houston, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024
  • Rates start at $230 per night for double occupancy, and special offers throughout the year can add even more savings.
    Beth Luberecki, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
Definition of saving
Noun
  • Though countless masterpieces have vanished over the millennia, many others remain hidden away, tucked in attics, basements and even thrift stores.
    Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024
  • The thrift store is open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday.
    Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of thrift
Noun
  • And even if the existing global public health architecture survives this time of parsimony and austerity, it will have been remodeled along the way.
    Laurie Garrett, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2012
  • But the Senate’s parsimony on these issues was praised by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, a think tank that advocates for racial and economic justice.
    Larry Edelman, BostonGlobe.com, 9 June 2023
Definition of parsimony
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near cutting back

cutting a deal

cutting back

cutting capers

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Cutting back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutting%20back. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Point of View: It's Personal

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
naughty or nice
Are you naughty or nice? Quiz He's making a quiz, and checking it twice...