to curtail

Examples

• All

• But the power of the despots will be curtailed, and the next generation will be ours.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Visits from loved ones were curtailed or denied; prisoners were kept in chains.

  Academic text (1992)

• And when students break the rules, we curtail their freedom.

  Mommie Dearest (1981)

• So the city officials did little to curtail these acts of violence.

  Fiction book (2001)

• Representatives of the people swear to curtail the power of the king and establish a constitution.

• Unsurprisingly, they decided to curtail the action.

• Our lives are curtailed, many opportunities have been lost.

  DoctorRamani

• Yet, it seems that all these measures have not been sufficiently effective in curtailing these social measures.

  Academic text (1999)

• The message is that the property tax must be sharply curtailed and that government spending, wherever it is, must be held in check.

• While the security barrier has curtailed terrorist attacks, the terrorist groups have not stopped trying.

  Academic text (2008)

Synonyms

S

to stop

vsto curtail

∞ 1.0

To make something end and not continue

also covers restricting or shortening rather than only making it end

L

to limit

vsto curtail

∞ 2.1

To control how much or how often something happens

adds the idea of cutting down or ending earlier than full extent

R

to restrict

vsto curtail

361 3.1

Limit how much people can use or access something

can also mean making something shorter or stopping it sooner

C

to cease

vsto curtail

324 3.6

To stop or come to an end

may instead mean reducing or making shorter without full termination

H

to halt

vsto curtail

206 2.4

To stop moving or make something stop moving

can instead refer to limiting or shortening rather than full cessation

C

to cut back

vsto curtail

169 2.9

To reduce how much you buy and use to save money and be healthier

can mean the same reduction but also abrupt early ending

C

to curb

vsto curtail

73 3.5

To limit or control something to stop it getting worse

is broader, including shortening or ending as well as restraining

C

to cut short

vsto curtail

67 3.5

Stop something earlier than planned

reduces or limits extent as well as sometimes ending early

P

to put a stop to

vsto curtail

62 3.0

To end something so it no longer happens

can mean stopping but also includes reduction rather than only ending

C

to clip

vsto curtail

51 1.6

To cut hair or plants shorter with scissors

is more general, focusing on reducing extent or ending earlier

P

to put the brakes on

vsto curtail

11 4.3

To slow down an activity or stop it

also implies cutting down amount or stopping earlier when needed

T

to throttle

vsto curtail

5 7.5

To reduce or control how much of something is allowed

covers the same slowing idea but also includes cutting short extent

Antonyms

E

to expand

805 2.5

To grow larger in size, amount, or importance

E

to extend

680 3.2

To make something reach farther, such as more places or people

Phrasal Verbs

C

to curtail spending

1 4.3

To spend less money to save or avoid debt

How Reduced

to stop

∞ 1.0

to reduce

∞ 1.6

to curtail

52 6.3

to cut back

169 2.9

to limit

∞ 2.1

Surface Forms

Etymology