Definitions

boil down

VERB

abbreviate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abridge compress

STRONG

abstract clip condense contract cut digest encapsulate pare prune reduce summarize trim

WEAK

cut back cut down cut off cut out get to the meat put in a nutshell take out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

expand extend increase

STRONG

enlarge lengthen strengthen

WEAK

amplify

VERB

compress

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abbreviate constrict cram restrict shorten shrink squeeze wrap

STRONG

abridge abstract bind coagulate concentrate consolidate contract cramp crowd crush decrease dehydrate epitomize narrow pack press ram reduce shrivel squash stuff summarize syncopate telescope tighten wedge

WEAK

densen densify force into space make brief press together

Antonyms

STRONGEST

amplify enlarge expand free grow increase lengthen let go open release

STRONG

add allow disperse extend loose loosen raise strengthen uncompress untie unwrinkle

WEAK

blow up fill stretch uncondense

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

blue pencil 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

curtail

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cut back decrease diminish downsize halt lessen reduce shorten slash trim

STRONG

abbreviate chop clip contract cramp cut dock lop minify retrench truncate

WEAK

get to meat pare down put in nutshell roll back

Antonyms

STRONGEST

develop enlarge expand extend grow increase lengthen raise strengthen

STRONG

amplify stretch

WEAK

prolong

VERB

deduce

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deduct glean infer presuppose surmise

STRONG

analyze assume cogitate collect conceive conclude consider deem derive draw fancy figure gather imagine judge make presume ratiocinate reason regard

WEAK

add up be afraid have a hunch make out read into take to mean

Antonyms

STRONG

destroy disbelieve disperse disregard distribute divide ignore leave misunderstand not believe reject scatter

VERB

digest

Synonyms

STRONG

abbreviate abstract classify codify compress condense cut decrease epitomize inventory nutshell reduce shorten sum summarize summate survey systematize tabulate trim

WEAK

cut down cut to bone get to the meat methodize put in a nutshell sum up synopsize

Antonyms

STRONG

add amplify develop disorganize enlarge expand extend fill grow increase lengthen raise strengthen

WEAK

detail misunderstand

VERB

distill

Synonyms

STRONGEST

condense extract infuse refine

STRONG

brew clarify concentrate cook cut dribble drip drop evaporate express ferment precipitate press purify rarefy rectify steam sublimate trickle trim vaporize volatilize

WEAK

cut down cut to the bone get to the meat press out squeeze out

Antonyms

STRONG

dirty pour

WEAK

pollute

VERB

edit

Synonyms

STRONGEST

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

STRONG

amplify assign blue pencil 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

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

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

blue pencil 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

simplify

Synonyms

STRONGEST

clarify cut down facilitate reduce shorten streamline

STRONG

abridge analyze chasten decipher disentangle disinvolve elucidate explain interpret order unscramble

WEAK

break down break it down clean it up clean up clear up cut the frills draw a picture get down to basics get to the meat hit the high spots lay out let daylight in let sunlight in make clear make perfectly clear make plain put in a nutshell put one straight spell out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

grow increase

STRONG

be vague confuse mix up mystify obscure

WEAK

complicate make difficult

VERB

summarize

Synonyms

STRONGEST

compile encapsulate epitomize outline recap rehash sum up

STRONG

abridge abstract cipher condense cut digest inventory pare prune recapitulate retrograde review shorten skim snip sum summate trim

WEAK

cut back cut down get to meat give main points précis put in a nutshell run down run through synopsize

Antonyms

STRONG

add enlarge expand increase lengthen

WEAK

break down

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

blue pencil even up pare down put in a nutshell slice off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

increase lengthen

STRONG

expand

WEAK

develop let grow

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.

See Examples For:

boil down

Their stories are sometimes convoluted, but at bottom they boil down to the same three elements: salt, wind and water.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

They would funnel information and boil down data to pithy takeaways for their superiors.

From MarketWatch ● May 7, 2026

There are massive implications for the A.I. industry here, but at the end of the day, the question might boil down to - who do people dislike more?

From Slate ● May 1, 2026

The concepts boil down to, if this conflict can't be worked out agreeably — and that may be because one side refuses to engage — what are my other options?

From Salon ● May 10, 2025

We used to discuss some of these matters, but we both knew the question would boil down to my saying, “Ted, you decide.”

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan

boil down

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words