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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
as in curtailed
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in curtailment
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of cut-back
Arkansas Online, 30 June 2025
With the goal of compensating for potential cutbacks, water users in the Lower Basin states have created systems for voluntary water market transactions, the authors explained.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 20 June 2025
Darlene Superville, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
Meanwhile, the rise of cannabis and GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are shifting drinking habits, with some consumers cutting back on alcohol altogether.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cut-back
Adjective
In March, cutbacks by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency had forced the visitor center and museum to close two days a week.
—Arkansas Online, 30 June 2025
With the goal of compensating for potential cutbacks, water users in the Lower Basin states have created systems for voluntary water market transactions, the authors explained.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 20 June 2025
Noun
In addition to tax breaks, the legislation boosts funding for deportations while cutting back on healthcare and food assistance for low income people.
—Darlene Superville, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
Meanwhile, the rise of cannabis and GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are shifting drinking habits, with some consumers cutting back on alcohol altogether.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cut-back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cut-back
Verb
-
July 22 could end up being the shortest of 2025, with Earth's rotation shaving off about 1.34 milliseconds from the usual 86,400 seconds.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
22 July 2025
-
July 9 was the first of three days in which a millisecond or more could be shaved off the clock on account of how the moon's position relative to Earth is influencing our planet's rotation.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Tour de France organizers have shortened Stage 19 of the competition to avoid a herd of cows which have suffered an outbreak of disease.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
-
Santos will leave prison, provided he is not pardoned or his sentence is not shortened, in 2032.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
At that rate, the load curtailment during a curtailment event would last 1.7 hours.—
Greg Robinson,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Vallas’ insistence on elevating the payouts to survivors of police violence and the criminal justice reform measures aimed at the curtailment of civil rights abuses to a greater level of concern than the police abuses of power that our city is unfortunately known for is nothing short of shameful.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
The National Endowment for the Humanities cut the grant this spring.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
22 July 2025
-
The Oak Ridge Boys, Reba McEntire, Jeannie C. Riley, Connie Smith and the duo of Charlie Louvin and Melba Montgomery were among the acts who cut her songs.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Key Takeaways Small caps lead weekly gains, Russell 2000 jumps 3.5% Jobs report shows strength, but private sector lags behind Markets calm despite tariff uncertainty and Elon Musk drama Despite the abbreviated trading week, stocks posted decent gains.—
JJ Kinahan,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
-
Tampa Bay’s first two Cup Final runs in that stretch came in abbreviated seasons.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The Bengals’ defensive changes should result in a marginal reduction in production, which moves Burrow just outside of the top three at his position.—
KC Joyner,
New York Times,
23 July 2025
-
In 2024, the company achieved a $7/barrel West Texas Intermediate (WTI) breakeven reduction, and its overall breakeven sits ~$45/barrel.—
David Trainer,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
-
But clipping in a hair topper or something like a fake ponytail can provide immediate gratification.—
Jessica Hartshorn,
Flow Space,
18 July 2025
-
Some young families attended with their children as well as young professionals dressed in business casual with IDs clipped to their waist.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
17 July 2025
Adjective
-
That's the abridged version of the tricky nature of prosecuting a murder case without a body.—
Fox News,
Fox News,
17 Jan. 2023
-
On Friday, Burrows, R-Lubbock, made public his request to Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell Busbee for an abridged video from a school hallway camera to be released.—
Dallas News,
Dallas News,
11 July 2022
Cite this Entry
“Cut-back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cut-back. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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