shorten

verb

ˈshȯr-tᵊn How to pronounce shorten (audio)
Definition of shortennext
as in to reduce
to make less in extent or duration we decided to shorten the distance we had to walk home by cutting across the neighbor's lawn if Grandma has to go shopping today, you'll need to shorten your visit

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of shorten are abbreviate, abridge, curtail, and retrench. While all these words mean "to reduce in extent," shorten implies reduction in length or duration.

shorten a speech

When might abbreviate be a better fit than shorten?

The words abbreviate and shorten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part.

using an abbreviated title

Where would abridge be a reasonable alternative to shorten?

While in some cases nearly identical to shorten, 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 is curtail a more appropriate choice than shorten?

Although the words curtail and shorten have much in common, curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy.

ceremonies curtailed because of rain

When would retrench be a good substitute for shorten?

The meanings of retrench and shorten largely overlap; however, retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive.

declining business forced the company to retrench

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 shorten Instead, Pillion writer-director Harry Lighton, Skarsgård, and his costar, Harry Melling, confirm the sequence was shortened to preserve its dramatic tension. —Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026 Ask a local cobbler shop to add a hole where needed or cut the best to shorten it. —Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026 Mindfulness While a certain amount of stress in life is inevitable, too much can result in a variety of health woes and may even shorten your life. —Amanda Gardner, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026 New England has to keep the ball and shorten the game. —Mike Sando, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shorten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shorten
  1. reduce
  2. curtail
  3. truncate
  4. abbreviate
  5. abridge
  6. cut back
Verb
  • Both coffee and tea contain bioactive ingredients such as polyphenols and caffeine, which may reduce inflammation and cellular damage while defending against cognitive decline.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Snowmaking specialist TechnoAlpin, which is supplying this year’s Winter Olympics, said technology has advanced significantly over recent decades, reducing energy demand and water consumption.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of reduce
Verb
  • If lawmakers can’t clinch a deal to keep the department open, Britt said Congress’ upcoming recess should be curtailed.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Egypt, Iraq, Oman, Qatar and Turkey have curtailed access, according to local media outlets.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of curtail
Verb
  • Party insiders pick a nominee, campaigns are truncated to a few short weeks, and challengers are locked out before the public ever hears their names.
    — Grace Rauh, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Thwarted and truncated directorial careers are among the depressing glories of the art of movies.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026
Definition of truncate
Verb
  • Old European Cut diamonds, abbreviated as OEC diamonds, are those cut with a historic technique dating back to the early 19th century, according to VRAI.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 9 Feb. 2026
  • In 1976, the theater began its own TV show, called Second City Television (and usually abbreviated as SCTV).
    — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Definition of abbreviate
Verb
  • Lesson one: Agencies cannot abridge free speech by forcing people to parrot the government’s ideological message.
    — Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 28 Dec. 2025
  • That set off a chain of social and legal arguments that led to the 2015 Supreme Court decision Obergefell v. Hodges, which held that the right to marry was covered by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and could not be abridged or denied license by the government.
    — Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
Definition of abridge
Verb
  • Chinese consumers were once the primary driver for the global luxury sector but have cut back sharply in recent years, weighed down by the country’s slowing economy and depressed housing values.
    — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Rinse aids might not always seem like necessary purchases, but these cycle boosters are specially formulated to cut back on streaks and residue.
    — Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of cut back

Browse Nearby Words

shorted
shorten
shortened
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shorten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shorten. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shorten

Nglish: Translation of shorten for Spanish Speakers

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