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
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2025
Intuitive Surgical has decided to slash hundreds of South Bay jobs due to cutbacks for one of its units.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2025
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
After blooms finish, cut back to 4 inches and mulch.
—Mike Irvine, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cut-back
Adjective
If John Deere customers make fewer equipment purchases, the cutback will hit the company’s domestic manufacturing, which makes up 80% of its U.S. sales and a quarter of its international sales.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2025
Intuitive Surgical has decided to slash hundreds of South Bay jobs due to cutbacks for one of its units.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
If the Wildcats cut back on their mistakes.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
After blooms finish, cut back to 4 inches and mulch.
—Mike Irvine, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cut-back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cut-back
Verb
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The lone artisan in his shop shaving out a single bow at a time from a stave of wood was a thing of the past.—
Clare Conley,
Outdoor Life,
18 Sep. 2025
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In that case, 33-year-old TJ Hoover woke up in the operating room to find people shaving his chest, bathing his body in surgical solution and talking about harvesting his organs.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The organizations that master this shift will shorten time-to-market, reduce costs and accelerate innovation cycles.—
John Akkara,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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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
Noun
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The move to question Europe’s harsh CO2 curtailment rules coincides with Trump Administration efforts to terminate rules based on the case that CO2 is a danger to public health These rules form the basis for U.S. greenhouse gas regulations.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
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The curtailment of academic freedom, the deportation of foreign students, the banning of protests: all of this is being done under the pretext of protecting Jews, who alone are entitled to protections that other groups apparently don’t merit.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The junior wideout slipped loose into the secondary, breaking free for a 51-yard touchdown reception as the Harbormen cut things to a 21-13 game.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
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The Fed may have seen the quarter-point interest rate cut on September 17 as necessary because the labor market is flagging.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Tampa Bay’s first two Cup Final runs in that stretch came in abbreviated seasons.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The reduction of labor costs via automation, efficiency gains, and increasing digital goods and services would all serve to push prices down.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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The survey data reveals that 60% of employees believe their leaders lack empathy during layoffs, while 54% don't trust leadership to handle workforce reductions fairly.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Having a good grooming regimen is also recommended to ensure the dog's nails are clipped, their ears are cleaned, and the coat is brushed thoroughly.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
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The carry handles each have a magnetic piece that then clips together to form a single bar to grasp.—
Adam Campbell-Schmitt,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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That's the abridged version of the tricky nature of prosecuting a murder case without a body.—
Fox News,
Fox News,
17 Jan. 2023
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For theater owners, even the abridged period of theatrical exclusivity is considered a win.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Cut-back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cut-back. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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