as in reducing
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in abridgement
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 shortening
Arkansas Online, 30 May 2025
During President Donald Trump's first term, in 2019, China's Ministry of Education warned students about visa issues in the U.S., with rising rejection rates and shortening of visas.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Jamie Carter, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Gigs takes over that process, as well as customer service and tax calculation automation, Frank says, shortening the setup process to weeks and cutting costs.
—Lucinda Shen, Axios, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for shortening
Verb
In 2019, during Trump's first term, China's Ministry of Education warned students about visa issues in the U.S., with rising rejection rates and shortening of visas.
—Arkansas Online, 30 May 2025
During President Donald Trump's first term, in 2019, China's Ministry of Education warned students about visa issues in the U.S., with rising rejection rates and shortening of visas.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
Noun
Jupiter is just a week past its annual opposition, which sees it at its brightest and best for 13 months as Earth gets in between it and the sun, shortening the distance.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Gigs takes over that process, as well as customer service and tax calculation automation, Frank says, shortening the setup process to weeks and cutting costs.
—Lucinda Shen, Axios, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for shortening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortening
Verb
-
Conversely, by reducing the number of vehicles entering Manhattan, the initiative could dramatically transform the urban commuting experience.—
Jack Kelly,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
-
State governments, as well as drug manufacturers, provide financial help to the uninsured, often reducing the cost of PrEP medicines to zero.—
James K. Glassman,
Boston Herald,
6 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
After new growth is visible on kangaroo paws, fertilize with any complete fertilizer (containing N-P-K, an abbreviation for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium).—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
19 June 2025
-
Access The Athletic’s guide for abbreviations used in fantasy baseball.—
Owen Poindexter,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
Recent examples of months of inaction and delays are electric scooter regulation, sidewalk vendor curtailment and regulating vacation rentals.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 July 2025
-
Mayor Matthew Hudes added that the agenda item should provide opportunity for council members and residents to discuss the possible actions Los Gatos can take locally to provide services to residents in response to federal funding cuts or curtailment of services.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
The Mercury News,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The legislature’s actions curtailing the Ethics Commission have led Chaffee to rethink how her group wrote the initial ballot initiative.—
Jacob Orledge,
ProPublica,
6 Jan. 2025
-
The National Institutes of Health agrees that curtailing these foods would be beneficial.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
JPMorgan expects growth of 1% in the third quarter, about steady with gains in the first half of the year, which saw a contraction in Q1 and a rebound in Q2.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
20 July 2025
-
For some, fear triggers contraction and defensiveness.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
Verb
-
Melissa Joan Hart is showing off her impressive beard-trimming skills!—
Gil Macias,
People.com,
6 Jan. 2025
-
The couple can be seen having a blast as Hart took the clippers and started trimming Wilkerson's beard in various ways, eventually splitting it into three long strands.—
Gil Macias,
People.com,
6 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
After securing the rope, customers should cut and remove the original compression strap from the pool, CPSC said.—
Melina Khan,
AZCentral.com,
22 July 2025
-
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) explains that the compression strap surrounding each of the pool's exterior can be used as a foothold.1 This allows children to climb into the pool even when the ladder is removed.—
Anna Halkidis,
Parents,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
The firm sued, calling the order a violation of the Constitution's First Amendment protections against government abridgment of speech and Fifth Amendment guarantee of due process - a requirement for the government to use a fair legal process.—
Mike Scarcella and David Thomas,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
-
The court later ruled that Congress’ efforts to impose similar limits with respect to noncitizens being detained at Guantanamo Bay under the Military Commissions Act of 2006 were an unconstitutional abridgment of habeas corpus rights.—
Andrea Seielstad,
The Conversation,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shortening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortening. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share