1
as in shaving
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 shortening
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 ungenerosity
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of cutting back
Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
Consider using a soil thermometer to determine when to start cutting back your plants.
—Benjamin Vogt, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025
Remove mushy, brown, or dead roots, cutting back to the rhizome.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
His crossing has often been a source of frustration, sometimes ballooning the ball too often, taking too long to put it into the area or cutting back on himself hesitantly.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
This year is especially important as chains try to reel in consumers who have been cutting back on discretionary spending.
—Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Drinking more water, increasing physical activity, eating potassium-rich foods, and cutting back on salt may improve excretion and potentially improve blood pressure.
—Md Published, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2025
After sleep, cutting back on alcohol and caffeine can be helpful.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Other educators who spoke to the Herald describe parents cutting back on extracurricular activities, avoiding school pick-up and drop-off lines, and even keeping children home to study informally.
—Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
The script is very confusing to read, cutting back and forth between the dream world and reality.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
Consider using a soil thermometer to determine when to start cutting back your plants.
—Benjamin Vogt, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025
Remove mushy, brown, or dead roots, cutting back to the rhizome.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
His crossing has often been a source of frustration, sometimes ballooning the ball too often, taking too long to put it into the area or cutting back on himself hesitantly.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
This year is especially important as chains try to reel in consumers who have been cutting back on discretionary spending.
—Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Drinking more water, increasing physical activity, eating potassium-rich foods, and cutting back on salt may improve excretion and potentially improve blood pressure.
—Md Published, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2025
After sleep, cutting back on alcohol and caffeine can be helpful.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Other educators who spoke to the Herald describe parents cutting back on extracurricular activities, avoiding school pick-up and drop-off lines, and even keeping children home to study informally.
—Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutting back
Verb
-
Boston College men's basketball point-shaving scandal One of the clearest examples of La Cosa Nostra's reach in sports was the 1978-79 scandal involving Boston College and two associates of the Lucchese crime family.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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Access to Chatswood has just been made easier by the 60 billion Australian dollar, or $39 billion, Sydney Metro project, with the new Chatswood to Sydenham line opening a year ago, making the trip between Sydney’s CBD and Chatswood now just 11 minutes, shaving almost two thirds off the road trip.—
Patty Huntington,
Footwear News,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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According to Simpson, the staff first chose this timeline, rather than cutting service entirely or shortening the season more, due to feedback from residents and members of the city's Senior Commission.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
20 Oct. 2025
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Once opened, air exposure and cross-contamination from utensils can introduce moisture and bacteria, shortening their shelf life.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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What Warren fails to recognize is that the formula of progress that dictates these measures also dictates that they will someday be regarded as the ungenerosity of a primitive people.—
Greg Weiner,
National Review,
26 Sep. 2019
Verb
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The Unified Government created a set of incentives, which include cutting permit fees and water and sewer connection fees, for people who want to build on its land bank property to try to encourage redevelopment.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
18 Oct. 2025
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The prince also accused his father of cutting him off financially, and Meghan said the royals discussed denying their children prince and princess titles and police protection.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But Friendship also let viewers see some of those Robinson character quirks as evidence of selfishness, male ego, and real mental instability.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
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There is zero selfishness to his game, no holding back to prevent injury.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Compressing multiyear pre-construction cycles into days or weeks and trimming 20% off project costs could expand supply faster than most policy interventions.—
Jon Stojan,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
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After cutting and trimming any splinters, place the stakes behind the trellis.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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After leaving Boston’s final preseason game with left hamstring tightness, Jaylen Brown was a limited participant in Friday’s practice.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
18 Oct. 2025
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This movement helps address tightness in the upper back.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Next to a wooden model of an ibis and a Brazil shirt signed by 1994 World Cup winner Ricardo Rocha is a small newspaper clipping.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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Tie branches with twine and add evergreen tassels, then insert photos in the branches, clipping them on, if needed, to hold in place.—
Emily Williams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cutting back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutting%20back. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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