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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

Few observers think the union is girding for another showdown, especially at a time when many of its members are struggling to find work amid media consolidation and belt-tightening.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2026

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

From Barron's • Mar. 7, 2026

The changes are stripping work trips of whatever shred of glamour they had after years of belt-tightening.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 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

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.