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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.

He was scheduled to host the program this Saturday, timed to the premiere of “Bupkis” — which also has Lorne Michaels as a producer — but the writers strike put a blue pencil through it.

From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 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

Ian McEwan, who has just published a very short new book, The Children Act, has said that "very few really long novels earn their length", and "my fingers are always twitching for a blue pencil".

From The Guardian • Sep. 2, 2014

He takes a blue pencil and draws little colored dots and lines that make the eyes look deep and textured and full.

From "Mockingbird" by Kathryn Erskine