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shortens

VERB

diminish, decrease

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 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

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.

The high numbers have rekindled concerns about overcrowding on the mountain, especially if poor weather shortens the climbing window.

From Barron's • May 17, 2026

Slicing the chicken speeds up the flavor exchange and shortens the cook time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Houston thrives when it shortens the field and avoids asking the offense to sustain long drives.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 26, 2025

And if you get it, you have a 90 percent chance of going on to develop chronic liver disease, which is to say cirrhosis or liver cancer, and it shortens your life.

From Slate • Dec. 4, 2025

“The king shortens no man’s shadow, though he may try,” Estraven remarked, and the cook looked satisfied.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin