SHORTEN Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

shorten

verb

ˈshȯr-tᵊn

Definition of shorten next

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

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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

Examples of shorten in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Each of the quarters in the second half were shortened by five minutes last Thursday but the teams did not operate with a running clock. —

Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 3 Sep. 2024 Outside schools, there's also an economic barrier to ending or shortening the summer break. —

Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2024 National Seating and Mobility also said that simplifying the prior authorization process could shorten wait times. —

Tamia Fowlkes, Journal Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2024 Kamala Harris Releases Economic Agenda—Here’s What To Know Telomerase activators aim to boost the enzyme's activity, potentially slowing down or reversing telomere shortening. —

William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shorten

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shorten.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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“Shorten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shorten. Accessed 18 Sep. 2024.

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Last Updated: 11 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences

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Synonyms of shorten

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Examples of shorten in a Sentence

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