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

Relevance

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
  • Standardization can also reduce due diligence burdens.
    — The Sorenson Impact Institute, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Higher temperatures may also reduce the sugar content of maple sap, meaning producers will need to collect and boil more sap to produce the same quantities of syrup.
    — Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 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
  • Logistics giants elsewhere in the supply chain are cutting employees as well.
    — Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 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
  • Like Wells, many business owners are thinking of pulling back: perhaps shrink the store's selection so there's less to ship, freeze hiring, pause advertising or developing new products — stop growing and go into survival mode.
    — Alina Selyukh, NPR, 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
  • All four players had fond memories of the tournament, with Dostál offering a bit of good-natured ribbing toward Pastrnak and recalling not only his triumph of 2024 but his first experience in 2022, when his tournament was truncated by an injury.
    — Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2025
  • However, there is no compelling reason to believe that truncating the number of neurons is an optimal strategy.
    — Sam Mugel, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of truncate
Verb
  • In terms of a mechanism, the rejection seems to decrease levels of a neuropeptide in the brain, which increases after mating, leading Heberlein et al.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Retrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retrench. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on retrench

Nglish: Translation of retrench for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All