shorten

verb

ˈshȯr-tᵊn How to pronounce shorten (audio)
Definition of shortennext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

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 shorten In the 2000s, several countries shortened the tenure of their central banks’ governors to four or five years. —Ana Carolina Garriga, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025 Tariffs could also slow nearshoring efforts aimed at increasing resiliency by shortening the supply chain between manufacturers and their U.S. customers. —Guy Courtin, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025 Martinez was in his second year as manager in ‘19. COVID-19 shortened the 2020 season. —Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025 And overconsumption of short-form, shallow content is shortening our attention spans. —Renée Onque, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shorten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shorten
  1. reduce
  2. curtail
  3. truncate
  4. abbreviate
  5. abridge
  6. cut back
Verb
  • Ars Video The technique reduced the lag between the patient’s brain signals and the resultant audio from the eight seconds the group had achieved previously to one second.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Not having injured Jalen Suggs, their most disruptive perimeter defender, reduces their volume of transition scoring opportunities.
    — Josh Robbins, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Definition of reduce
Verb
  • Friendship is robbed of its expansiveness and curtailed.
    — Priya Vulchi, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
  • One huge question is whether the tariff shock will force the U.S. into a recession, as businesses face deep uncertainty and consumers consider curtailing personal spending.
    — Niall Stanage, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of curtail
Verb
  • All four players had fond memories of the tournament, with Dostál offering a bit of good-natured ribbing toward Pastrnak and recalling not only his triumph of 2024 but his first experience in 2022, when his tournament was truncated by an injury.
    — Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2025
  • However, there is no compelling reason to believe that truncating the number of neurons is an optimal strategy.
    — Sam Mugel, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of truncate
Verb
  • In every single scenario, participants rated the abbreviating sender as less sincere and far less worthy of a reply.
    — David Fang, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Even with his career being injury abbreviated, there are those to this day who would place him No. 1, ahead of Gretzky and Howe.
    — James Mirtle, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of abbreviate
Verb
  • Three firms have sued, arguing that the orders abridge constitutional rights to free speech, due process, and assistance of counsel.
    — Henry Gass, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Establishing spheres of influence involves a dominant power abridging the sovereignty of geographically proximate states—as Trump is seeking to do with Canada, Greenland, and Mexico and as China is attempting with Taiwan.
    — Monica Duffy Toft, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of abridge
Verb
  • The threat of Thommy cutting back to dribble toward the end line forced the St. Louis back line to drop deeper, opening up space.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Because tariffs raise prices, Americans are expected to cut back on spending — a potentially major problem given that 70 cents of every $1 in the nation's gross domestic product is based on consumer spending.
    — Alain Sherter, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of cut back

Browse Nearby Words

shorted
shorten
shortened
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Cite this Entry

“Shorten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shorten. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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