Definitions

blue pencil

[bloo-pen-suhl] / ˈbluˈpɛn səl /

VERB

abridge

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abbreviate curtail truncate

STRONG

abstract chop clip compress concentrate condense contract cut decrease digest diminish downsize lessen limit narrow reduce restrict slash snip summarize trim

WEAK

put in nutshell

Antonyms

STRONGEST

expand extend increase lengthen

STRONG

add develop enlarge fill free grow let go raise release strengthen stretch

VERB

condense

Synonyms

STRONGEST

compress curtail shorten summarize thicken

STRONG

abbreviate chop coagulate compact concentrate constrict contract cut decoct digest edit encapsulate epitomize inventory precipitate reduce shrink snip solidify sum summate telescope trim

WEAK

boil down cut down densen press together précis put in a nutshell synopsize

Antonyms

STRONGEST

extend increase lengthen

STRONG

amplify develop enlarge expand grow loosen open stretch thin

VERB

delete

Synonyms

STRONGEST

annul black out cross out cut out destroy eliminate erase expunge omit remove wipe out

STRONG

bleep cancel censor cut drop edit efface exclude expurgate obliterate rub snip squash squelch trim unsend

WEAK

X out blot out clean up pass up rub out rule out strike out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

add include keep restore

STRONG

accept allow

WEAK

put in

VERB

edit

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adapt alter analyze annotate arrange assemble censor choose compile compose delete prepare publish rearrange revise select

STRONG

amplify assign butcher check condense correct cut discard doctor draft emend excise feature fine-tune finish massage polish prescribe proofread rectify redact regulate rehash rephrase report scrub style tighten trim

WEAK

boil down fly speck go over make up put together recalibrate set up strike out write over

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disarrange disorder disorganize disperse disturb scatter separate

STRONG

indulge keep ruin spoil worsen

VERB

erase

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abolish delete eliminate expunge negate obliterate wipe out

STRONG

annul blank blot cancel cut dispatch efface excise extirpate gut kill launder nullify strike trim withdraw

WEAK

X out black out cross out cut out disannul scratch out stamp out strike out take out unsee

Antonyms

STRONGEST

build construct ratify

STRONG

allow keep lose permit retain validate

WEAK

add insert put in

VERB

excise

Synonyms

STRONGEST

black out cross out cut out edit eradicate expunge exterminate stamp out

STRONG

amputate cut destroy elide erase extirpate extract gut launder resect slash strike trim

WEAK

X out blot out cut off cut up exscind exsect knock off lop off scissor out scratch out wipe out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

add

STRONG

insert lose put in

VERB

expunge

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abolish annul delete eradicate erase exterminate extinguish omit wipe out

STRONG

annihilate cancel cut discard drop efface exclude extirpate gut kayo kill launder raze remove scrub trim zap

WEAK

KO X out black out blot out call all bets off call off knock off strike out take out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

add establish insert institute put in

STRONG

allow help

WEAK

build construct

VERB

expurgate

Synonyms

STRONG

bleep bowdlerize cleanse decontaminate lustrate purge purify sanitize screen scrub squash sterilize

WEAK

bleep out blip clean up

Antonyms

STRONG

dirty open

WEAK

allow permit

VERB

nullify

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abolish abrogate annul invalidate negate offset quash repeal rescind restrict torpedo undo veto void wipe out

STRONG

abate annihilate ax compensate confine counteract counterbalance countervail kill limit neutralize renege scratch scrub squash trash vitiate zap

WEAK

bring to naught call all bets off disannul forget it render null and void stamp out take out wash out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allow approve enact establish institute keep legalize permit ratify sanction support validate

STRONG

aid assist free help let go release revive save schedule set up

WEAK

affirm pass sanctify

VERB

obliterate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

annihilate black out eliminate eradicate erase expunge exterminate knock out obscure ravage smash wash out wipe out

STRONG

ax bog cancel cover cut defeat delete efface extirpate finish kill level liquidate nix off scratch scrub sink squash torpedo total trash waste zap

WEAK

KO X out blot out do in finish off knock off mark out root out rub off rub out shoot down take apart take out wipe off face of earth

Antonyms

STRONGEST

add aid assist bear build create fix help revive

STRONG

begin construct initiate keep leave alone save schedule set up start

VERB

revise

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alter amend compare cut develop improve modify overhaul reconsider reexamine reorganize revamp review rework rewrite scrutinize tighten update upgrade

STRONG

change debug emend launder perfect polish recast redo redraft rehash scan scrub study

WEAK

clean up go over look over recalibrate redraw restyle run through

Antonyms

STRONGEST

decrease harm ignore injure worsen

STRONG

ruin

VERB

shorten

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abbreviate compress curtail cut cut back cut down lessen minimize reduce shrink slash trim

STRONG

abridge bob chop clip condense contract dock edit elide excerpt lop retrench snip

WEAK

boil down cut to the bone make a long story short put in a nutshell

Antonyms

STRONGEST

develop enlarge expand extend grow increase lengthen raise strengthen stretch

WEAK

amplify elongate

VERB

trim

Synonyms

STRONGEST

clip curtail cut cut back cut down mow pare prune shave shear shorten whittle down

STRONG

abbreviate barber bob crop dock edit lop plane snip tidy truncate

WEAK

boil down even up pare down put in a nutshell slice off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

increase lengthen

STRONG

expand

WEAK

develop let grow

VERB

void

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abrogate annul dissolve invalidate rescind vacate

STRONG

abnegate bleep cut discharge drop gut launder sanitize sterilize trim

WEAK

black out clean up declare null and void take out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

approve permit validate

WEAK

allow keep sanction

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, however, hardly ever picks up his blue pencil.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2023

The lack of an editor’s blue pencil is not.

From New York Times • Feb. 24, 2021

Go to “edit profile,” click the blue pencil next to the job you just lost, and you’ll have the opportunity to uncheck the “I currently work there” box, and to put in an end date.

From Forbes • Sep. 8, 2014

Bennett did not break out his blue pencil.

From Slate • Jul. 24, 2014

That psychiatrist’s blue pencil dropped, and his professional manner fell off in all directions.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

blue pencil

Example Sentences

Related Words