Academic Dictionary
Home / Thesaurus / Shortening
Find the word that fits

Shortening: alternatives and connections

Begin with the reviewed alternatives, then explore broader connections without treating every related word as an automatic substitute.

Try an example: important law show help change happy
26,102 words currently have published synonym-style alternatives
90,593 searchable synonym connections
350,924 published thesaurus relationships of every type
Start with the meaning

Shortening

of Shorten

View the full dictionary entry Compare this word with another →
52 useful connections shown 10 reviewed relationships and 42 broader connections.
Best place to begin

Reviewed alternatives and contrasts

These links were deliberately created. Use the interchangeability score and guidance to judge whether a word will work in your sentence.

Narrower term 5

Abbreviation 76% connected

The act of shortening, or reducing.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

Definition Compare both words
Contraction 76% connected

The act or process of contracting, shortening, or shrinking; the state of being contracted; as, contraction of the heart, of the pupil of the eye, or…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

Definition Compare both words
Cut 76% connected

of Cut

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

Definition Compare both words
Cutting 76% connected

of Cut

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

Definition Compare both words
Truncation 76% connected

The act of truncating, lopping, or cutting off.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

Definition Compare both words

Broader term 3

Decrease 76% connected

To grow less, -- opposed to increase; to be diminished gradually, in size, degree, number, duration, etc., or in strength, quality, or excellence; as…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Definition Compare both words
Diminution 76% connected

The act of diminishing, or of making or becoming less; state of being diminished; reduction in size, quantity, or degree; -- opposed to augmentation…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Definition Compare both words
Reduction 76% connected

The act of reducing, or state of being reduced; conversion to a given state or condition; diminution; conquest; as, the reduction of a body to powder…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Definition Compare both words

Derivationally related 2

Shorten 74% connected

To make short or shorter in measure, extent, or time; as, to shorten distance; to shorten a road; to shorten days of calamity.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Definition Compare both words
Shorten 74% connected

To make short or shorter in measure, extent, or time; as, to shorten distance; to shorten a road; to shorten days of calamity.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Definition Compare both words
Explore further

Words from the same subject

These terms belong to the same specialist field or topic. They help you explore the subject, but they are not automatically synonyms.

Adenine noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) purine base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Adenosine noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) a nucleoside that is a structural component of nucleic acids; it is present in all living cells in a combined form as a…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Agonist noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) a drug that can combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiological reaction

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Antagonism noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) interference in or inhibition of the physiological action of a chemical substance by another having a similar structure

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Cutin noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) a waxy transparent material that occurs in the cuticle of plants and consists of highly polymerized esters of fatty aci…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Cytochrome noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) a class of hemoprotein whose principal biological function is electron transfer (especially in cellular respiration)

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Deoxyribonucleic acid noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associ…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Desoxyribonucleic acid noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associ…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
DNA noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associ…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Endergonic adjective · 78% connection

(biochemistry) of a process accompanied by or requiring the absorption of energy; the products of the process are of greater free ener…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Exergonic adjective · 78% connection

(biochemistry) of a process accompanied by the release of energy; "diffusion is an exergonic process"

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Lysis noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) dissolution or destruction of cells such as blood cells or bacteria

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Nucleic acid noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) any of various macromolecules composed of nucleotide chains that are vital constituents of all living cells

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Oligo noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) a polynucleotide whose molecules contain relatively few nucleotides

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Oligonucleotide noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) a polynucleotide whose molecules contain relatively few nucleotides

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Polynucleotide noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) a linear polymer whose molecule is composed of many nucleotide units constituting a section of a nucleic acid molecule

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Ribonucleic acid noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer of nucleotides found in the nucleus but mainly in the cytoplasm of a cell where it is associated…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
RNA noun · 78% connection

(biochemistry) a long linear polymer of nucleotides found in the nucleus but mainly in the cytoplasm of a cell where it is associated…

Used in the same subject area: Biochemistry, Chemistry.
Definition Compare
Explore further

Words connected by meaning

Their definitions overlap or refer to similar ideas. Use these to widen your search, then compare the exact meanings.

Abbreviate verb · 78% connection

To make briefer; to shorten; to abridge; to reduce by contraction or omission, especially of words written or spoken.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: shorten.
Definition Compare
Abridge verb · 78% connection

To make shorter; to shorten in duration; to lessen; to diminish; to curtail; as, to abridge labor; to abridge power or rights.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: shorten.
Definition Compare
Aphetize verb · 78% connection

To shorten by aphesis.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: shorten.
Definition Compare
Brief verb · 78% connection

To make an abstract or abridgment of; to shorten; as, to brief pleadings.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: shorten.
Definition Compare
Contract noun · 78% connection

To draw together or nearer; to reduce to a less compass; to shorten, narrow, or lessen; as, to contract one's sphere of action.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: shorten.
Definition Compare
Curtail verb · 78% connection

To cut off the end or tail, or any part, of; to shorten; to abridge; to diminish; to reduce.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: shorten.
Definition Compare
Detuncate verb · 78% connection

To shorten by cutting; to cut off; to lop off.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: shorten.
Definition Compare
Dock verb · 78% connection

To cut off a part from; to shorten; to deduct from; to subject to a deduction; as, to dock one's wages.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: shorten.
Definition Compare
Epitomize verb · 78% connection

To make an epitome of; to shorten or abridge, as a writing or discourse; to reduce within a smaller space; as, to epitomize the works…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: shorten.
Definition Compare
Foreshorten verb · 78% connection

To represent on a plane surface, as if extended in a direction toward the spectator or nearly so; to shorten by drawing in perspective.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: shorten.
Definition Compare
Quicken adjective · 78% connection

To shorten the radius of (a curve); to make (a curve) sharper; as, to quicken the sheer, that is, to make its curve more pronounced.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: shorten.
Definition Compare
Retract verb · 78% connection

To draw back; to draw up or shorten; as, the cat can retract its claws; to retract a muscle.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: shorten.
Definition Compare
All dictionary tools

Explore Academic Dictionary

The same nine destinations available from the header menu are shown here as a clear, fully visible grid.

Dictionary Definitions and meanings Thesaurus Synonyms with nuance Academic writing Evidence and analysis Professional Workplace vocabulary Word origins Etymology and roots Subjects Specialist dictionaries Word clusters Connected vocabulary Word similarity Compare two words Crossword Play with vocabulary