red-pencil

verb

ˈred-ˌpen(t)-səl How to pronounce red-pencil (audio)
Definition of red-pencilnext
1
as in to amend
to remove errors, defects, deficiencies, or deviations from the magazine claims that every article is red-penciled by a team of fact checkers before it ever sees the light of print

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to censor
to remove objectionable parts from a television script that had been heavily red-penciled in abject surrender to political correctness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of red-pencil The book is a literary arrangement of sparring between D’Agata and Fingal, consisting of a draft of D’Agata’s text red-pencilled by editors and extensive correspondence between the two writers. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for red-pencil
  1. amend
  2. censor
  3. correct
  4. shorten
  5. reform
  6. remedy
Verb
  • Under a state law passed in 2024 and amended this year, outdoor advertising companies can remove up to 500 feet of vegetation blocking drivers and onlookers from viewing their signs.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Meta appears to have amended the commercial terms to address publishers' concerns.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of amend
Verb
  • The film came out highly censored in 1971, and only recently had its most salacious bits recovered from the archives and restored to their fleshy glory.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
  • But on the television broadcast that aired on Saturday, Antonia’s T-shirt had been censored, appearing to be all white.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of censor
Verb
  • Ahead of a critical divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, the need to correct the problems sooner rather than later has become dire after a 2-4 start.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Spotting where physical results diverge from computer models allows technical teams to correct their simulation software before committing to final prototype hardware.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of correct
Verb
  • This position causes the moonlight to pass through a denser layer of air, shortening blue and violet wavelengths and making the orange and red ones stand out — similar to a sunset.
    — Dharma Niles, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
  • With many drivers conserving fuel to shorten their first green-flag pit stop, Buescher, Preece and Keselowski broke from the pack with laps that were 10 seconds faster.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of shorten
Verb
  • The citizens group hoping to reform Connecticut’s oppressive property tax system will release its recommendations Monday, hoping to force candidates for state offices to take positions during the final push toward Election Day.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Farmers will have to fallow their alfalfa fields, homeowners pull out their lawns, industries will have to reform.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of reform
Verb
  • For years, federal lawmakers have tried to remedy this issue, said Sabrina Corlette, a research professor and co-director of Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms.
    — Stephanie O'Neill, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Dutch hardware brand Fairphone has been remedying this for a few years now, with its line of gadgets that are designed to be repaired and used for years longer than usual.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of remedy

Browse Nearby Words

redounds
red-pencil
red-penciled
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Cite this Entry

“Red-pencil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red-pencil. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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