curtail
Verb
Medium difficulty
What does “curtail” mean?
verb.to reduce in extent or quantity; to impose a restriction on.
SAT Usage
the term is often used in contexts involving policy changes, budget reductions, or limitations on behavior. It emphasizes a deliberate and often strategic limitation, suggesting that the reduction is not merely accidental but rather a conscious choice to restrict or decrease something, distinguishing it from synonyms like "reduce," which may lack this connotation of intentionality.
Common Confusions
Curtail implies a deliberate restriction or reduction, while diminish usually suggests a more passive or natural decrease without the connotation of intentionality.
Do not choose curtail if the context emphasizes expansion or increase rather than the reduction in extent or quantity.
Example Sentences
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Curtailing horses procured long horse-hair.
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When the audience grew restless, the speaker curtailed her speech.