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Synonyms

belt-tightening

American  
[belt-tahyt-n-ing] / ˈbɛltˌtaɪt n ɪŋ /

noun

  1. a curtailment in spending; period of economizing.

    The mayor ordered a belt-tightening for all city offices.

Etymology

Origin of belt-tightening

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But aware of the risks, it has brought in a series of belt-tightening measures - including declaring Wednesdays a public holiday and bringing in fuel rationing.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

For investors, the risk lies in misreading this moment as cyclical belt-tightening rather than structural repositioning.

From Barron's • Mar. 7, 2026

Analysts and automakers predict U.S. annual sales will fall in 2026 following three straight years of gains as belt-tightening American car buyers collide with tariff costs that companies probably won’t keep absorbing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026

But growing AI adoption, softening consumer and corporate spending, and belt-tightening driven by higher costs likely played a role as well.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 6, 2025

The cost estimate, provided to The Times on Monday by the county chief executive office, will necessitate more belt-tightening for a government that’s running out of notches.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2025

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.