cut back 1 of 3

verb

Definition of cut backnext
1
as in to shave
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to shorten
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

cut-back

2 of 3

adjective

as in curtailed

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Dissimilar Words

cutback

3 of 3

noun

as in curtailment

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Dissimilar Words

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 cut back
Verb
Americans are cutting back on spending amid economic concerns. — Emily Guskin, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026 Surveillance video allegedly shows the truck crossing into oncoming traffic to pass two vehicles before cutting back into its lane. — Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Adjective
The Vikings want to base out of the wide zone, where offensive linemen fire off the ball in tandem and running backs find clear cut-back lanes. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 12 June 2026 Both were from similar actions, where Paintsil tapped in a cut-back pass that nobody on Sporting’s back line anticipated. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
What this usually means is an aggressive reduction in expenses; in the case of a college athletic department, that would likely mean the potential elimination of entire programs, staff positions, and a cutback on various budgets. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026 The Writers Guild of America has ratified a four-year contract with the major studios, agreeing to significant cutbacks in the writers’ health plan. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cut back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cut back
  1. shave
  2. shorten
  3. abbreviated
  4. curtailment
  5. cut
  6. reduction
  7. clip
  8. shrinkage
Verb
  • With competition so fierce in the race to build and release the latest AI models however, the expediency of shaving off every possible drag on speed trumps all.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Kath is competitive only about things that matter, like logging steps or shaving her legs, and the game had no bearing on her reality.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of shave
Verb
  • Amazon's recent decision to shorten server depreciation periods underscores the risk of rapid hardware aging.
    — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Faster integration can shorten the path from production lines to operational inventories.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of shorten
Adjective
  • In recent years, shorts have been getting smaller, shorter, more abbreviated.
    — Max Berlinger, Vogue, 22 May 2026
  • Tessa Francis fired an abbreviated no-hitter with eight strikeouts, while Ashley Mortensen went 3-for-4 as Marblehead routed Winthrop 12-0 in five innings in the Northeastern Conference.
    — Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 19 May 2026
Definition of abbreviated
Noun
  • Such environmental waivers are not arbitrary decisions but legal mechanisms, ordered by local authorities, to prevent grid instability, for example when loss of wind generation would be exacerbated by curtailment of thermal plants.
    — Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • This can reduce the strain on the electric grid and help prevent the need for involuntary power curtailment or power brownouts, Holran notes.
    — Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 21 June 2026
Definition of curtailment
Verb
  • However, a dangerous push to cut these crucial programs, especially in Africa, risks repeating past errors and ceding influence to competitors.
    — James K. Glassman, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Sears carried it wide, cut inside center-back Rafaelle, and fired past Moorhouse for the goal.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of cut
Noun
  • In late April, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration banned the use of federal grants for distributing strips to the public and for some other harm reduction practices that have been credited with saving lives.
    — Scott Maucione, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Gamers lament that this is benefitting the companies while offering nothing to consumers with no price reductions in the cost of games, despite the supply-side savings.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduction
Verb
  • Besides, there are tree branches to bundle, coupons to clip, guacamole to toss out, incredulous news reports to run through Snopes and at least 20 spam texts to block.
    — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Murcko has been tapped to steer the company’s global revenue organization, overseeing brand partnerships, direct media sales, podcast sales, clipping and other brand and sponsorship activities.
    — William Earl, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of clip
Noun
  • The first of the Virginia-class SSGNs are not scheduled to join the fleet until 2029, so the Navy is likely to see a shrinkage in its missile strike capabilities in the meantime.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • That’s where all the problems come from—the shrinkage, the color, blah, blah, blah.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of shrinkage

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Cite this Entry

“Cut back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cut%20back. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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