as in ungenerosity
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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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of cutting back
Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
Consider cutting back stems that cross or rub against one another.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026
Earth Day on the 22nd is a wonderful anchor for habits around sustainability like planting something, spending more intentional time outside, or cutting back on single-use plastics.
—Cheryl Russell, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
That approach often comes with tradeoffs, like cutting back on alcohol or budgeting differently to afford the classes and trainers who know their name and celebrate their wins.
—Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 15 Apr. 2026
But now, customers are cutting back.
—Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
One option is to remove all the dead, cutting back into the body of the fern.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
As the Giants’ Landen Roupp threw a pitch to the Mets’ Jorge Polanco — who fouled the ball off his foot — the camera kept cutting back to the mom.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
Consumers may react to higher gas prices by cutting back on their spending elsewhere in the economy, Hammack said, which could lead to weaker growth and layoffs, which the Fed would need to respond to with rate cuts.
—Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
New York Times Companies are cutting back on employee business trips, but doing so many stunt workers’ careers.
—Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
Consider cutting back stems that cross or rub against one another.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026
Earth Day on the 22nd is a wonderful anchor for habits around sustainability like planting something, spending more intentional time outside, or cutting back on single-use plastics.
—Cheryl Russell, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
That approach often comes with tradeoffs, like cutting back on alcohol or budgeting differently to afford the classes and trainers who know their name and celebrate their wins.
—Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 15 Apr. 2026
But now, customers are cutting back.
—Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
One option is to remove all the dead, cutting back into the body of the fern.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
As the Giants’ Landen Roupp threw a pitch to the Mets’ Jorge Polanco — who fouled the ball off his foot — the camera kept cutting back to the mom.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
Consumers may react to higher gas prices by cutting back on their spending elsewhere in the economy, Hammack said, which could lead to weaker growth and layoffs, which the Fed would need to respond to with rate cuts.
—Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutting back
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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There have been scores of game-fixing and point-shaving scandals, notably involving the 1950 NCAA champion City College of New York, the 1978–79 Boston College men’s basketball team, and, in the 2000s, Arizona State men’s basketball.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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Very often, the home seller and listing agent will ask for a very short timeline, removing the financing contingency (the full loan approval), shaving 10 days from the process with a closing in 21 days.—
Jeff Lazerson,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Features of the proposal include new crossings to Bailey Fountain, shortening the crossing at Flatbush and Vanderbilt Avenues, creating an accessible path near Bailey Fountain and shifting the bike path north.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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Orion entered the atmosphere on a steeper trajectory, shortening the heat shield’s exposure time to extreme heating.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Shooting the final sequence from Cassie’s point of view was a last-minute adjustment, which Levinson made the day of filming to emphasize Cassie’s narcissism and selfishness.—
Zoe Papelis,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
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The doctor further explained that the traits of a narcissist encompass low empathy, arrogance, entitlement, grandiosity and pathological selfishness.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Vesia surrendered a two-run triple to Swanson and an RBI single to Nico Hoerner, cutting the Dodgers’ lead to one.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Part of that includes 'cutting the pond' using machinery to dig through the sand and allow water to flow in and out.—
Jacob Wycoff,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Giancarlo Stanton was pulled from the Yankees’ game against the Astros on Friday, departing in the sixth inning with right calf tightness.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Peyton Watson has missed all three games of the series with a hamstring strain, while Aaron Gordon missed Thursday’s affair with calf tightness.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Oracle Park roared to life in the bottom of the fifth as San Francisco’s offense finally got to Alcantara, trimming the deficit to 8-3 as Drew Gilbert, Eric Haase and Luis Arraez all drove in a run apiece.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Across TikTok, Instagram and group chats, young people are constantly editing themselves, trimming anything that might come off as try-hard, awkward or embarrassing.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The memory foam construction also provides plush cushioning to prevent pinching.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
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In digital tests, wearers used natural pinching and grasping gestures to zoom and manipulate virtual objects on a computer screen with fluid precision.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cutting back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutting%20back. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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