as in shortening
to make less in extent or duration
had to abbreviate his vacation in France in order to travel to Oslo to receive the Nobel Prize
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Recent Examples of abbreviating
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
Janine Henni, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abbreviating
shortening
Verb
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In a large bowl beat shortening with a mixer on medium to high 30 seconds.—
Maddy Bendgen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Mar. 2026
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When one dog needed encouragement to run through the tunnel, Magnuson intervened, shortening it to a few feet.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abbreviating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abbreviating. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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