curtail

verb

(ˌ)kər-ˈtāl How to pronounce curtail (audio)
Definition of curtailnext
as in to shorten
to make less in extent or duration curtailed the school day because of the stormy weather

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word curtail different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of curtail are abbreviate, abridge, retrench, and shorten. While all these words mean "to reduce in extent," curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy.

ceremonies curtailed because of rain

When is abbreviate a more appropriate choice than curtail?

The synonyms abbreviate and curtail are sometimes interchangeable, but abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part.

using an abbreviated title

Where would abridge be a reasonable alternative to curtail?

The words abridge and curtail are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, abridge implies a reduction in compass or scope with retention of essential elements and a relative completeness in the result.

the abridged version of the novel

When might retrench be a better fit than curtail?

The words retrench and curtail can be used in similar contexts, but retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive.

declining business forced the company to retrench

When would shorten be a good substitute for curtail?

The meanings of shorten and curtail largely overlap; however, shorten implies reduction in length or duration.

shorten a speech

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 curtail As for the chalking, Carter said the decision to bar it was more an administrative issue than an attempt to curtail speech. —Chris Quintana, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025 Then, a 2009 law curtailed credit-card access for people under 21. —Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025 At Phoenix Children's, Meyer said, the loss of extra funding would curtail expansions of care for children and growth of the hospital's workforce. —Phil Galewitz, NPR, 9 Sep. 2025 Injuries curtailed the start of Taylor’s career at Minnesota. —Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for curtail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curtail
shorten
Verb
  • The organizations that master this shift will shorten time-to-market, reduce costs and accelerate innovation cycles.
    — John Akkara, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Perhaps the biggest change, though, is that the average length of a game has been shortened by more than a half hour.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Definition of shorten

Browse Nearby Words

curt
curtail
curtailed
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Cite this Entry

“Curtail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curtail. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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