cutting back 1 of 2

noun

Definition of cutting backnext
as in ungenerosity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
  • Exposure to direct sunlight or high temperatures can cause squash to ripen too quickly, shortening its shelf life.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025
  • One of the most difficult parts of wedding planning is shortening the guest list.
    Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 30 Dec. 2024
Definition of shortening
Noun
  • If Nietzsche was right, altruism comes from selfishness, humility from arrogance, love from hate.
    Nikhil Krishnan, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
  • His selfishness ran counterintuitive to the label’s ethos, which Faith Evans described as being familial.
    Jayson Rodriguez, Variety, 18 Nov. 2024
Definition of selfishness
Verb
  • Melissa Joan Hart is showing off her impressive beard-trimming skills!
    Gil Macias, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
  • The couple can be seen having a blast as Hart took the clippers and started trimming Wilkerson's beard in various ways, eventually splitting it into three long strands.
    Gil Macias, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of trimming
Verb
  • And the itemizing of it, breaking it up, short form, the clipping it out.
    Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 18 Dec. 2024
  • In Don’t Look Back, Bob is reading in a newspaper clipping about himself.
    Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of clipping
Noun
  • However, economists have warned that his plans to implement tariffs on different countries could hurt the U.S. economy and cause prices to rise across various sectors.
    Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Zoom in: Cleveland has several major projects designed to improve the city's economy over the next decade, including the Bedrock Riverfront Plan, Lakefront Master Plan and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame expansion.
    Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
Definition of economy
Noun
  • Their homes may have been paid off or close to it, their life savings sunk into that plot of ground.
    Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025
  • This can appeal to cautious retirees who are very concerned about outliving their savings.
    Steve Vernon, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
Definition of saving
Noun
  • The global market for secondhand clothing is expected to reach $351 billion by 2027, according to a 2023 report from the online thrift store thredUp (TDUP).
    Madeline Fitzgerald, Quartz, 14 Jan. 2025
  • The watercolor was discovered last year by Andy Robbins, an HR professional and frequent thrift store visitor, at New Life Thrift.
    Daniel Cassady for ARTnews, Robb Report, 8 Jan. 2025
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 22 Jan. 2025.

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