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
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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
as in ungenerosity
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cutting back
Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Other educators who spoke to the Herald describe parents cutting back on extracurricular activities, avoiding school pick-up and drop-off lines, and even keeping children home to study informally.
—Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Start by cutting back the top growth to just a couple of inches to expose the crown of the plant.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2025
Gentle thinning of a magnolia will remove a few flowers, while cutting back all the branches to reduce its size can remove many of the flower buds, resulting in fewer flowers next spring.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
Other plants with small flowers can be deadheaded by simply cutting back the whole plant to encourage regrowth.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2025
Experts say no amount of alcohol is safe, but even cutting back could make a big difference for your health.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 20 Aug. 2025
What that means specifically is cutting back on add-ons like extra packaging or free batteries, which lowers costs but then has the downside of reducing the shelf appeal of the product.
—Alex Vuocolo, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
This year has seen retailers like Big Lots, Joann Fabrics, Kohl's, JCPenney, Macy's, and Party City cutting back their physical footprint or going under altogether.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
After sleep, cutting back on alcohol and caffeine can be helpful.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Other educators who spoke to the Herald describe parents cutting back on extracurricular activities, avoiding school pick-up and drop-off lines, and even keeping children home to study informally.
—Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Start by cutting back the top growth to just a couple of inches to expose the crown of the plant.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2025
Gentle thinning of a magnolia will remove a few flowers, while cutting back all the branches to reduce its size can remove many of the flower buds, resulting in fewer flowers next spring.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
Other plants with small flowers can be deadheaded by simply cutting back the whole plant to encourage regrowth.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2025
Experts say no amount of alcohol is safe, but even cutting back could make a big difference for your health.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 20 Aug. 2025
What that means specifically is cutting back on add-ons like extra packaging or free batteries, which lowers costs but then has the downside of reducing the shelf appeal of the product.
—Alex Vuocolo, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
This year has seen retailers like Big Lots, Joann Fabrics, Kohl's, JCPenney, Macy's, and Party City cutting back their physical footprint or going under altogether.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutting back
Verb
-
Early on the morning of March 16th, Nayib Bukele, the President of El Salvador, posted video footage of Salvadoran agents marching the Venezuelan men into prison and shaving their heads.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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One analyst suggested that shaving a percentage point off the state’s income tax could cut available revenues by roughly $5 billion.—
State House News Service,
Boston Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
These quick highlights also align with ever-shortening attention spans.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
After noticing that more people were commuting by bicycle, designers tweaked the brand’s windproof jacket, shortening its length and tightening the sleeves to prevent air from blowing up a rider’s arms.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
What Warren fails to recognize is that the formula of progress that dictates these measures also dictates that they will someday be regarded as the ungenerosity of a primitive people.—
Greg Weiner,
National Review,
26 Sep. 2019
Verb
-
Spend some time worrying about that thing that’s actually quite meaningless, getting mad at that person cutting me off in traffic?—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Marinaccio is cutting it Marinaccio made his big-league debut with the Yankees in 2022 and between June and July of that did not allow a hit to 57 consecutive batters.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Approach LinkedIn DMs with service instead of selfishness, so sales become a natural byproduct of connection.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Batemen gets a few moving monologues, but Vince’s heavier dose of morbid witticisms aren’t enough to overcome his pervasive selfishness and abominable behavior (nor is a late-arriving revelation about his past).—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Scott's expertise in embellishment and her ability to execute it in the most chic way prevailed; whether as crystal beading on the cape-style lapel of a jacket, a delicate fur-like fringe in neon green flanking a black dress, or a tubular velvet rope trimming the edges of tank-style pieces.—
Roxanne Robinson,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Something as simple as trimming nails or cutting hair also takes on new challenges, as without gravity, every tiny clipping would drift around, potentially clogging equipment or entering astronauts' eyes or lungs.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Vinopure Acne Serum features salicylic acid derived from wintergreen leaves and antioxidant-rich palmitoyl grapeseed extract sourced from the brand’s vineyards in the South of France, which together leave skin clearer and smoother, without tightness or flakiness.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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That collective tightness, honed on their summer European run, was the impetus to get the crowd moving, and often surfing, through the venue.—
Daniel Kohn,
Rolling Stone,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Its audio comes through clean and detail-rich, with noise cancelling and automatic limiting to handle background chaos without clipping your voice.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
9 Sep. 2025
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Crews will complete work on the Riverfront Extension Project that requires a shutdown, like clipping wires and placing the overhead guide wire between Second and Third streets.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cutting back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutting%20back. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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