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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in curtailment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Maggie O'Neill, Health, 18 Jan. 2025
What To Know The FDA backed the public health benefits of the nicotine pouches that are meant to help adult smokers cut back or quit cigarettes.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Mark Carey, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
Bass, 71, has also been blasted over cutbacks in Fire Department operations, with those attacks coming from both the right and the left.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for cut back 
Verb
However, the ban is an opportunity to cut back on social media use.
—Maggie O'Neill, Health, 18 Jan. 2025
What To Know The FDA backed the public health benefits of the nicotine pouches that are meant to help adult smokers cut back or quit cigarettes.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
That run makes space for Eze to drift into, with Munoz’s cutback allowing Eze to shoot first time — albeit missing the target.
—Mark Carey, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
Bass, 71, has also been blasted over cutbacks in Fire Department operations, with those attacks coming from both the right and the left.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for cut back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cut back
Verb
-
Nearly $2 billion in upgrades would only shave off 10 minutes from the 5.5-hour journey, according to the study. $24 billion in upgrades would trim 35 minutes.—
Ryan Deto,
Axios,
6 Feb. 2025
-
Brie Larson shaved her head for a West End play, Machine Gun Kelly is rocking a man bun, and Lisa Rinna went full blunt-bang chic.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The importance of love, and just seeing each other as human beings and how love can kind of shorten the gap of any divide between people.—
Tommy McArdle,
People.com,
27 Jan. 2025
-
These costs appear to speed up their epigenetic aging, and even shorten their overall lifespans.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Broadly speaking, does curtailment of SNAP to healthy, nutritious foods only face any constitutional blockers?—
Shane Croucher,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
-
The growing public discontent was met with a government backlash, including a drastic curtailment of the freedoms of assembly, speech, and association.—
Sarah E. Mendelson,
Foreign Affairs,
15 Dec. 2014
Verb
-
Crews found heavy flames coming from the front of the home and focused their efforts on search and rescue while also cutting holes in the roof of the house to release smoke and gas, the Fire Department said in a social media post.—
Amy McDaniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Feb. 2025
-
Stocks rapidly cut those losses after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Trump struck a deal to delay the tariffs for one month.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
An abbreviated Season 7 will cap The Conners’ run at 112 episodes.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
27 Dec. 2024
-
The first is one The Acolyte already tackled, albeit in an abbreviated way: What if the Jedi weren’t always virtuous, what if people with Force abilities aren’t so easily slotted into good or evil, and what if this society’s enshrinement of them is a massive cover-up?—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
3 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The agency elevated its fight against climate change into a central pillar of U.S. development work akin to poverty reduction — a woeful distraction from its work in war zones and in countries suffering famine.—
The Editors,
National Review,
5 Feb. 2025
-
Other levers include responsible consumption, material reduction and refill/reuse.—
Lauren Parker,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
He was awarded a posthumous Purple Heart, according to another news clipping.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2025
-
The Cape/Islands get clipped by a touch of snow briefly tonight.—
Raul A. Reyes,
Newsweek,
23 Jan. 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
Thesaurus Entries Near cut back
Cite this Entry
“Cut back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cut%20back. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share