shortening 1 of 2

Definition of shorteningnext

shortening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of shorten

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 shortening
Noun
Stress-relieving travel can also slow the shortening of telomeres, one of the indicators of biological age. Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 29 May 2026 Once in place, attackers are prevented from pivoting freely from segment to segment, thereby containing potential attacks, shortening mitigation timelines and lowering financial impact. Jaushin Lee, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Verb
Companies shortening depreciation schedules may be signaling conservatism and discipline. Brian Anderson, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 The process of shrinking was different among the groups, with some dinosaurs reducing the size of the fingers first, while others prioritized shortening the forearm. Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for shortening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortening
Noun
  • One of football betting’s favourite abbreviations and the concept is refreshingly uncomplicated.
    Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • Look for the following abbreviations in plant catalogs and on labels when selecting varieties.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • This battery system will enable up to 12 hours of silent scientific operations powered entirely by batteries, reducing both emissions and underwater noise that can interfere with sensitive marine research.
    Dea Jusufi, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
  • According to the researchers, the catalyst weakens excessive bonding between iron sites and hydroxyl intermediates, allowing the reaction to proceed more smoothly and reducing one of the major bottlenecks in zinc-air battery operation.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • Similar concerns were raised about the merger of the SAG and AFTRA health plans in 2017, which was followed by a significant curtailment in benefits a few years later.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 5 June 2026
  • In exchange for the curtailment of some freedoms, the people submit to an authority, thereby gaining protection and security.
    George G. Szpiro, Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But by the time Forrest reaches age 10, when dogs become eligible for Loyal’s pill, those defenses will more often misfire and fail to stop not just cancer but also other life-abbreviating ailments.
    Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
  • Edo also followed Prince William and Kate Middleton's lead with the sweet sign off for his latest social post by abbreviating the children's first names with their initials to send an online message.
    Janine Henni, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Their victory comes despite the best efforts of Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth), the head of the government contracting group Wardex, who has attempted to keep the existence of aliens hidden from the public.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026
  • The risk of a human contracting the disease is higher for people experiencing homelessness or living in a space with rats or animal urine, per the CDC.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Those who show up late or not at all get removal orders, further truncating the already limited due process available to immigrants.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 26 May 2026
  • After three years of closures that shuttered different sections of Highway 1, truncating the 100-mile drive between Carmel and Cambria, the area has seen a surge in tourism that officials want to ensure doesn’t overrun the area.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Noun
  • Weakens a little when the contractions peak.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 June 2026
  • One of the few signs of contraction in the Nevada labor economy came in government jobs, which fell over the past year, holding back what would have been an even stronger expansion.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • And, even if Díaz-Canel again invited Cubans abroad to invest in the country and promised a new legal framework to protect investments, Cuba’s repressive laws curtailing citizen rights, including property rights, are still in place.
    Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
  • California has a goal to enhance road safety, and lawmakers are interested in potentially curtailing dangerous vehicle sizes.
    Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shortening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortening. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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