retrench

verb

Definition of retrenchnext
as in to reduce
formal to change the way things are done in order to spend less money When the economy slowed, the company was forced to retrench.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word retrench different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of retrench are abbreviate, abridge, curtail, and shorten. While all these words mean "to reduce in extent," retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive.

declining business forced the company to retrench

When is abbreviate a more appropriate choice than retrench?

While in some cases nearly identical to retrench, abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part.

using an abbreviated title

When is it sensible to use abridge instead of retrench?

The words abridge and retrench can be used in similar contexts, but abridge implies a reduction in compass or scope with retention of essential elements and a relative completeness in the result.

the abridged version of the novel

When can curtail be used instead of retrench?

In some situations, the words curtail and retrench are roughly equivalent. However, curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy.

ceremonies curtailed because of rain

When could shorten be used to replace retrench?

The words shorten and retrench are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, shorten implies reduction in length or duration.

shorten a speech

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of retrench As the North Korean regime started to retrench after Kim Jong Un took the reins, the engagement tapered off. —Rodney W. Nichols, Foreign Affairs, 25 June 2015 Covid slammed production, followed by Hollywood strikes that continue to ripple and media companies and streamers retrenching amid industry shifts, high interest rates and inflation. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2025 In response to all the uncertainty, universities are retrenching. —Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025 During lockdown in 2020, the business began retrenching and restructuring. —Samantha Conti, WWD, 27 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for retrench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrench
  1. reduce
  2. cut
  3. slash
  4. pare
  5. shrink
  6. curtail
  7. truncate
  8. decrease
Verb
  • This has, among other losses, reduced Egyptian revenue from the Suez Canal by about eight hundred million dollars a month.
    — Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Standardization can also reduce due diligence burdens.
    — The Sorenson Impact Institute, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of reduce
Verb
  • The mom of one most notably cut her hair in January 2023, debuting a head-turning, blunt bob.
    — Dayna Haffenden, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Nissan reversed an earlier decision to cut production at a Tennesee plant to one shift from two.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of cut
Verb
  • The vacuum, which is typically priced at $450, has been slashed to just $300 at Amazon.
    — Amy Schulman, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Big studios have slashed budgets, making life for production crews more financially precarious.
    — Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of slash
Verb
  • The Boston Globe | Getty Images Europe’s Stoxx Healthcare index was 4.4% lower at 10:02 a.m. in London on Wednesday, paring earlier losses but still trading low enough to lead the regional equity sell-off.
    — Chloe Taylor,Jenni Reid,Sawdah Bhaimiya,Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Federal government employment showed a decline of 4,000 jobs from February to March after an initiative by the Trump administration to pare the federal workforce.
    — Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of pare
Verb
  • Now the gap has shrunk to 5.3% behind 2024 and 35% behind 2019.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
  • If the company stumbles—or worse, goes bust—your deferred cash could shrink or vanish.
    — Anatoly Iofe, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of shrink
Verb
  • Friendship is robbed of its expansiveness and curtailed.
    — Priya Vulchi, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
  • One huge question is whether the tariff shock will force the U.S. into a recession, as businesses face deep uncertainty and consumers consider curtailing personal spending.
    — Niall Stanage, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of curtail
Verb
  • However, there is no compelling reason to believe that truncating the number of neurons is an optimal strategy.
    — Sam Mugel, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The results led to traces that were similar to the Alkali Flat tracks, with the poles dragged in the mud, truncating footprints.
    — Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of truncate
Verb
  • However, their wage bills only decreased by 28 per cent.
    — Matt Slater, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Keeping those cuts on the books would decrease revenue by $4.5 trillion from 2025 through 2034, according to estimates from the Tax Foundation.
    — Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of decrease

Browse Nearby Words

retreats (from)
retrench
retrenched
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Cite this Entry

“Retrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrench. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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