RETRENCHING Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

retrenching 1 of 2

noun

as in retrenchment

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retrenching

2 of 2

verb

present participle of retrench

as in reducing

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

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 retrenching

Noun

So far from a reset, Noem’s removal is a retrenching — an effort to remove our focus from the deeply troubling link between immigration policy and the threat to democracy while actually grinding forward on that dark path. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026 This retreat from church mirrors a larger retrenching. — John Blake, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025

Verb

Advertising revenue is moving toward digital while pubcasters face tighter government budgets and the streamers themselves are consolidating and retrenching. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 One way to allay fears that the United States is retrenching from the world’s most important region is to chart an ambitious course for its most critical alliance. — David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2026 The closures arrive as galleries around the world are retrenching amid an art market destabilized by tariffs, war, and shifting buyer habits and tastes. — News Desk, Artforum, 3 Aug. 2026 In other cases, key stakeholders—including investors and customers—have kept companies from fully retrenching on climate. — Justin Worland, Time, 11 July 2026 There has been a lot of talk recently about Saudi Arabia retrenching from sports. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 May 2026 Networks and streamers, which have spent the past few years retrenching, may be regaining their appetite for risk. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026 General manager Pat Verbeek is keeping things tight to the vest but the Ducks, after years of retrenching into a painful rebuild and totally reshaping the club, are now in a position to add talent at the deadline instead of selling. — Eric Stephens, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026 But what if the mission changes, and the organization turns from all-out going for it to a form of retrenching? — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for retrenching

Noun

Given that the United States keeps getting mired in errant conflicts, Congress urgently needs to reassert its constitutional obligation to approve acts of war and oversee retrenchment.

— Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026
McQueen is parting ways with creative director Seán McGirr after an uneven three-year collaboration, and amid a substantial retrenchment of the business involving layoffs and a downsizing of the retail network.

— Miles Socha, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of retrenchment

Verb

While serving as a public health official, el Sayed wrote an op-ed in 2019 strongly supporting the Green New Deal, arguing that reducing greenhouse gas emissions will help improve public health.

— Maydeen Merino, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
Together, the tools could help accelerate the development of more resilient electric motor systems while reducing the risks associated with critical material shortages, volatile supply chains and rapidly changing global markets.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of reducing

Noun

What’s Happening Home cooks and professional chefs are increasingly reaching for beef tallow in place of butter, vegetable oil and shortening.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026
Beginning in the early 20th century, the chemical process of hydrogenation allowed producers to turn liquid vegetable oils into semisolid fats suitable for shortening and margarine.

— Edward D. Melillo, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of shortening

Verb

The city of Hollywood hosted a public meeting to give residents an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about Amendment 3, a ballot proposal aimed at drastically slashing property taxes.

— Ted Scouten, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
McAvoy missed the first six games of the season as punishment for slashing Buffalo’s Zach Benson late in Game 6 of the first round of the playoffs last season when the Bruins got eliminated.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of slashing

Noun

Poems are distillations into presence wherein now exists in blood flowing through veins, in muscles contracting and releasing, in joints flexing and extending, in this inhale, in this foot strike against the pavement, in this sigh.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Rankin said the board is specifically focused on avoiding conflicts of interest in contracting, strengthening workplace culture, establishing procedures for staff to raise concerns and reviewing how vacancies and reassignments are addressed.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of contracting

Verb

Upgrading to the Thrust Variant requires a $245,000 follow-up payment and adds SpaceX cold-gas rear thrusters alongside an active multi-mode fan system for downforce, cutting acceleration down to under a second.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
And by cutting China off, Washington gave Beijing every reason to build its own alternatives.

— Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of cutting

Verb

Experts point to busier schedules, parenting demands, shrinking friendship networks and the appeal of at-home entertainment as some possible reasons for the decline.

— Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Banks that limit their sourcing to other banks are competing for a shrinking pool of people who already think the way the industry has always thought.

— Paul Davis, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of shrinking

Verb

Since their debut in 1986, American Girl has shrunk their historical line significantly–including paring down the traditional six-book set for each historical character into two streamlined texts.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
Boeing shares were up as much as 3% in premarket trading before paring back some of those gains.

— Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of paring

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Style

“Retrenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrenching. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of retrenching

noun

verb

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