abridge

6 synonyms and 2 antonyms for abridge, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To take something away from someone; to cut it off.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

contract reduce cut

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

shorten

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

foreshorten abbreviate

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To take something away from someone; to cut it off.

contract shorten reduce foreshorten cut abbreviate

2. verb

To make something shorter in length or time.

Opposites

expand lengthen

Etymology

Abridge comes from Middle English abreggen, abregge, abrigge (“curtail, lessen”), from Old French abregier, abreger, which trace back to Late Latin abbreviō, abbreviāre (“make brief”). It is a doublet of abbreviate.

Full origin of abridge →

People also searched

cut contract reduce expand shorten abbreviate lengthen foreshorten

Nearby words

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