Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb abridge

2 senses of abridge

Sense 1
abridge, foreshorten, abbreviate, shorten, cut, contract, reduce -- (reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The manuscript must be shortened")
       => decrease, lessen, minify -- (make smaller; "He decreased his staff")

Sense 2
abridge -- (lessen, diminish, or curtail; "the new law might abridge our freedom of expression")
       => restrict, curtail, curb, cut back -- (place restrictions on; "curtail drinking in school")