What Is Another Way to Say “Cut Down”?

Looking for synonyms for cut down? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say cut down.

  • Reduce
  • Trim
  • Decrease
  • Lessen
  • Shorten
  • Minimize
  • Prune
  • Diminish
  • Lower
  • Curtail
  • Shrink
  • Slash
  • Pare down
  • Downsize
  • Scale back

Want to learn how to say cut down professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Reduce

“Reduce” is used when you want to make something smaller in size, amount, degree, importance, or intensity.
Example: “The company decided to reduce expenses by 10% to improve profitability.”

2. Trim

“Trim” is appropriate when making small adjustments to decrease size, quantity, or extent.
Example: “The manager was asked to trim the budget for the upcoming project.”

3. Decrease

“Decrease” is used when something becomes smaller or less in size, amount, intensity, or degree.
Example: “There was a strategic decision to decrease production levels due to falling demand.”

4. Lessen

“Lessen” implies making something less in size, amount, severity, or importance.
Example: “To lessen the workload on employees, the company introduced automation tools.”

5. Shorten

“Shorten” is suitable for reducing something in length, duration, or extent.
Example: “The team needed to shorten the timeline to meet the launch date.”

6. Minimize

“Minimize” is used when reducing something, especially something undesirable, to the smallest possible amount or degree.
Example: “The department head sought to minimize risks associated with the new venture.”

7. Prune

“Prune” is typically used in the context of reducing something by removing parts that are not necessary or useful.
Example: “The CEO decided to prune the company structure to improve efficiency.”

8. Diminish

“Diminish” refers to making or becoming less.
Example: “The marketing campaign helped to diminish the impact of the negative press.”

9. Lower

“Lower” is used for making something less in amount, level, or degree.
Example: “The CFO’s plan was to lower the company’s debt ratio within two years.”

10. Curtail

“Curtail” means reducing or limiting something or cutting it short.
Example: “The manager had to curtail the meeting due to an urgent issue.”

11. Shrink

“Shrink” implies a reduction in size, quantity, or scope.
Example: “The digital transformation led to the company’s decision to shrink its physical office space.”

12. Slash

“Slash” is used for dramatically reducing something, often in a way that seems harsh or drastic.
Example: “To remain competitive, the retailer slashed prices during the holiday season.”

13. Pare Down

“Pare down” means reducing something in size by cutting away its outer edges; metaphorically, it means reducing something in scope or scale.
Example: “The project manager had to pare down the project scope to stay within budget.”

14. Downsize

“Downsize” typically refers to making a company or organization smaller by reducing the number of people employed.
Example: “The corporation decided to downsize its workforce to cut costs.”

15. Scale Back

“Scale back” is used when reducing the size, scope, or extent of something.
Example: “Due to limited resources, the research team had to scale back their study.”

Linda Brown