SHORTENS Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

shortens

verb

present tense third-person singular of shorten

as in reduces

to make less in extent or duration we decided to shorten the distance we had to walk home by cutting across the neighbor's lawn if Grandma has to go shopping today, you'll need to shorten your visit

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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 shortens Their average life span is about 8,000 hours, but turning them on and off frequently shortens this time frame. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2026 Keeping machining close to engineering also shortens the feedback loop between design and testing. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026 Mechanical recycling shortens cotton fibers, and the company recommends combining them with carrier fibers to maintain the quality and performance of finished textiles. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026 Hot water can cause shrinking, fraying, and pilling, which shortens the lifespan of your towels. — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026 If a stage is a tenth of the path, then even cutting it to zero shortens the path by a tenth at most. — Illia Smoliienko, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026 Running them through the washer too frequently breaks down elastic and shortens their usable life. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026 Uneven tire wear that shortens tire life and affects handling. — Michael Kurko, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 And choosing a washer with a higher spin speed (up to about 1,000 RPM) removes more water before drying, which shortens air-dry time significantly. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortens

Verb

This reduces the turbulence around the suspension and in the trailer’s wake, and lowers the aerodynamic drag.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
There are studies suggesting that being on a regular training regimen reduces your risk of cancer recurrence.

— Samantha Ciaccia, Glamour, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of reduces

Verb

Its title abbreviates the spring/summer 2026 season, dropping the album directly into the fashion calendar.

— Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 31 July 2026
That’s a tactic city financers used on several other bond projects as well, said Molly Scarbrough, a deputy program manager for the Denver GO Bond Program, which abbreviates general obligation bond.

— Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2025

Definition of abbreviates

Verb

In addition, insulin sensitivity — or how effectively the body responds to the hormone insulin — also generally decreases at night.

— Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 9 Oct. 2026
The drink—also known simply as beet juice—decreases inflammation and is rich in nitrates, which help relax blood vessels and allow blood to flow more freely.

— Christina Manian, HEALTH, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of decreases

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shortenings

shortens

shortfall

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

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Synonyms of shortens

verb

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