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 Kharg Island mission might make sense if it strikes a decisive blow that shortens the war and secures America’s strategic interest.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The urgency has grown as his career runway shortens.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026

That approach shortens supply chains, satisfies local regulations, and stabilizes market access.

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

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

Going downhill, she shortens her step, keeps centered, not leaning forward.

From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes