as in abbreviation
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shortening
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 8 Apr. 2026
Climate change complicates forecasting All this is playing out against the backdrop of climate change, which is shortening winters and turning up the heat.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortening
Noun
If stiffness appears after walks, shortening outings can help keep the experience positive for both dog and owner.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
Key Takeaways Echinacea may lower your risk of catching a cold, while zinc is more effective at shortening the length of an existing virus.
—Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 8 Apr. 2026
Climate change complicates forecasting All this is playing out against the backdrop of climate change, which is shortening winters and turning up the heat.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortening
Noun
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Also, units of Ukraine’s Security Service struck the Gorky oil pumping station in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region east of Moscow, said a senior official from the agency, which goes by the abbreviation SBU.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Rounding out the cast are Jillian Leff and Jared Sprowls as R and G (abbreviations of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern), who comment on the action and debate whether or not change is possible for Ophelia.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These will compete with strawberries for nutrients and space—worse, cabbage leaves will create shade, reducing flower and fruit production.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
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Supporters of a rescue including labor unions representing Spirit’s pilots, flight attendants and ramp workers said a collapse would put thousands of Americans out of work and hurt consumers by reducing airline competition and increasing airfares.—
Aamer Madhani,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Noun
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In exchange for the curtailment of some freedoms, the people submit to an authority, thereby gaining protection and security.—
George G. Szpiro,
Big Think,
9 Apr. 2026
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The disruption reflects a broader curtailment of Holy Week traditions.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But by the time Forrest reaches age 10, when dogs become eligible for Loyal’s pill, those defenses will more often misfire and fail to stop not just cancer but also other life-abbreviating ailments.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
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Edo also followed Prince William and Kate Middleton's lead with the sweet sign off for his latest social post by abbreviating the children's first names with their initials to send an online message.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Noun
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One exercise involved lightly pressing down on the abdomen in specified areas surrounding the belly button, while the other required contracting the hips in a bridge motion.—
Lindsey Leake,
NBC news,
29 Apr. 2026
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Mellencamp grew up modestly but comfortably in the idyllic town of Seymour, Indiana, the son of a mother who was an artist and nascent beauty queen, and a father who worked a white-collar job with a local electrical contracting firm.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The longtime illusion of a mainstream industry involved truncating both ends of the bell curve, the radical and the mercenary.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Calcium is crucial for muscle contractions, including those of your heart, to ensure effective blood circulation throughout your body.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
1 May 2026
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Oil exports have plunged, prompting the IMF to forecast an economic contraction of nearly 7% this year.—
Alaa Shahine Salha,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Emirati officials had threatened for years to leave, blaming Opec’s production quotas for unfairly curtailing its oil exports.—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
30 Apr. 2026
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Instead of curtailing the spending spree, the City Council put a sales tax hike on the November 2024 ballot.—
Mark Powell,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortening. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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