retrench

Synonym Chooser

How is the word retrench different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of retrench are abbreviate, abridge, curtail, and shorten. While all these words mean "to reduce in extent," retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive.

declining business forced the company to retrench

When is abbreviate a more appropriate choice than retrench?

While in some cases nearly identical to retrench, abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part.

using an abbreviated title

When is it sensible to use abridge instead of retrench?

The words abridge and retrench can be used in similar contexts, but 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

When can curtail be used instead of retrench?

In some situations, the words curtail and retrench are roughly equivalent. However, curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy.

ceremonies curtailed because of rain

When could shorten be used to replace retrench?

The words shorten and retrench are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, shorten implies reduction in length or duration.

shorten a speech

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 retrench In response to all the uncertainty, universities are retrenching. Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025 During lockdown in 2020, the business began retrenching and restructuring. Samantha Conti, WWD, 27 Jan. 2025 For most of the past two-plus years, the market has paused and retrenched before going into full momentum-froth mode, healing itself, but hard to say if that pattern will continue. Michael Santoli, CNBC, 1 Feb. 2025 Meanwhile, as lawmakers contend with Trump’s initial steps as president, Democrats are attempting to regroup and retrench their party. The Editors, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for retrench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrench
Verb
  • Standardization can also reduce due diligence burdens.
    The Sorenson Impact Institute, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • This has, among other losses, reduced Egyptian revenue from the Suez Canal by about eight hundred million dollars a month.
    Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Will cutting sustainability contribute to losing trust with employees, consumers, and communities?
    Paul Klein, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Pitino pulled star wing RJ Luis out of the lineup after making two free throws to cut Arkansas’ lead to two points with less than five minutes to play.
    Brendan Quinn, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The vacuum, which is typically priced at $450, has been slashed to just $300 at Amazon.
    Amy Schulman, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Big studios have slashed budgets, making life for production crews more financially precarious.
    Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Kraft, who launched his campaign in early February, has thus far rolled out a plan that would pare back affordability requirements, saying that the mayor’s policies have exacerbated housing affordability.
    Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Together with previous buyouts and early retirements spurred by Trump administration policies, the move will pare the health department down to about 62,000 employees, the agency said.
    Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • However, expressed as a percentage of overall employment, federal employment has been shrinking since 1975.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Paul Rudd Paul Rudd previously starred in three Ant-Man movies as the superhero who can shrink to subatomic size.
    Eliana Dockterman, Time, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Asian equities ended the week with a thud as Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia fell more than -1% as tariff talk (terror?) curtails animal spirits and Indonesia closed for Hindu Saka New Year.
    Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The development is the latest sign that the Trump administration may dramatically curtail HUD’s housing discrimination work.
    Jesse Coburn, ProPublica, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • However, there is no compelling reason to believe that truncating the number of neurons is an optimal strategy.
    Sam Mugel, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The results led to traces that were similar to the Alkali Flat tracks, with the poles dragged in the mud, truncating footprints.
    Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • These systems reduce manual checks, decreasing staff needed for routine tasks without replacing them entirely.
    Chris Ciabarra, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • By April 2024, fuel costs peaked for the year before starting to decrease again in May.
    Washington Examiner Staff, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Retrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrench. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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