EN

Synonyms for abridge

  • verb

Most common

shorten abbreviate reduce restrict

All synonyms

Verb

1. Shorten — cut short; truncate

shorten, abbreviate, reduce, restrict, curtail, lessen, compress, diminish, edit, contract, condense, cut short, abstract, cut, edit out, cut down, recapitulate, retrench, clip, epitomize UK US, epitomise UK, foreshorten, truncate

Other

deprive, divest

Antonyms

lengthen, elongate, protract

All antonyms of abridge →

Definitions

  1. v. 1

    Cut short; truncate.

Related words

Word family
abridged abridgment abridger

Forms

Past participle
abridged
e.g. abridged → shortened, abbreviated, reduced, restricted…

Example sentences

  • restrict He feels this new law will restrict his freedom.
  • shorten High operating temperatures shorten lubricant life.
  • curtail Their efforts to curtail spending didn't quite succeed.
  • abbreviate We abbreviate Sunday to Sun.
  • deprive You must not deprive children of their playthings.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
abridgefalling
restrictsteady
shortensteady
curtailfalling
abbreviatesteady
deprivefalling

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters
cut1
4 letters
edit2, clip1
6 letters
reduce2, lessen2, divest2
7 letters
shorten2, deprive2, curtail2
8 letters
contract2, abstract2, restrict2, diminish3, compress2, condense2, truncate2, retrench2
9 letters
epitomize4, epitomise
10 letters
abbreviate4
11 letters
foreshorten
12 letters
recapitulate5

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (edit2 = 2 syllables).