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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:

While Dudley listed a number of different issues, they boil down to three big ones.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026

"It does boil down to customer service," she believes.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

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

This could boil down to Sam Darnold versus Matthew Stafford.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 24, 2026

I scooped under the snow for teaberry plants to boil down and pour over snowballs for dessert.

From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

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