Synonyms of trim

trim 1 of 3

adjective

as in tidy

being clean and in good order

kept his journal entries trim, never crossing out words or scribbling, but printing exactly and nicely

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tidy
• tidied
• neat
• picked up
• groomed
• shipshape
• prim
• crisp
• kempt
• uncluttered
• trig
• orderly
• snug
• antiseptic
• well-groomed
• smug
• spruce
• immaculate
• sleek
• organized
• spiffy
• natty
• dapper
• bandbox
• saucy
• taut
• streamlined
• spotless
• rakish
• spick-and-span
• smart
• systematic
• straight

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• messy
• untidy
• unkempt
• slovenly
• shabby
• disordered
• disorderly
• disheveled
• scruffy
• sloppy
• dirty
• mussy
• seedy
• filthy
• slipshod
• foul
• mussed
• nasty
• sordid
• sloven
• squalid
• rumpled
• tumbled
• dowdy
• disorganized
• tousled
• frowsy
• unsystematic

trim

2 of 3

noun

1

as in shape

a state of being or fitness

the doctor declared her to be in good trim for the race

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shape
• condition
• health
• repair
• order
• form
• estate
• keeping
• nick
• kilter
• fettle
• practice
• phase
• pass
• stage
• status
• situation
• posture
• picture
• scene
• standing
• rank
• footing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disorder
• disrepair

2

as in ornament

something that decorates or beautifies

added a little trim to her cocktail dress to make it a little fancier

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ornament
• ornamentation
• decoration
• adornment
• garnish
• embellishment
• frill
• garniture
• garnishment
• setoff
• glitter
• doodad
• caparison
• beautifier
• embroidery
• furnishings
• ruffle
• frosting
• embellisher
• filigree
• design
• apparel
• flounce
• flourish
• finery
• improvement
• enhancement
• bells and whistles
• appliqué
• froufrou
• pattern
• frippery
• gilt
• blazonry
• furbelow
• enrichment
• emblazonry
• chichi
• fancywork
• embossment
• foofaraw
• fal-lal
• trappings
• figure
• bric-a-brac
• regalia
• bedizenment

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• scar
• blemish
• disfigurement
• stain
• spot
• blot
• defacement

trim

3 of 3

verb

ˈtrim 

1

as in to master

to achieve a victory over

a speed skater who consistently trimmed all his competition

Synonyms & Similar Words

• master
• overcome
• defeat
• take
• beat
• get
• best
• worst
• conquer
• dispatch
• stop
• subdue
• lick
• surmount
• win (against)
• prevail (over)
• finish
• get around
• overmatch
• triumph (over)
• get the better of
• overbear
• upend
• succeed
• skunk
• sweep
• do down
• bury
• overwhelm
• knock for a loop
• blow out
• cap
• flatten
• skin
• whip
• cream
• better
• slaughter
• blow away
• edge (out)
• exceed
• crush
• top
• score
• surpass
• wax
• flourish
• excel
• clobber
• nose out
• upset
• pip
• shellac
• annihilate
• snow under
• smoke
• rout
• bomb
• subjugate
• break
• trounce
• thrash
• vanquish
• drub
• overpower
• overthrow
• knock over
• unseat
• outdo
• overtop
• wallop
• outstrip
• transcend
• eclipse
• outshine
• outdistance
• ace (out)
• knock off
• outfight

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose (to)
• fall
• go down
• give up
• fail
• fold
• go under
• collapse
• wash out
• flop
• flunk

2

as in to whip

to defeat by a large margin

they trimmed our team by 40 points

Synonyms & Similar Words

• whip
• bury
• overcome
• flatten
• skin
• cream
• throw
• blow away
• wax
• bomb
• paste
• top
• beat
• upset
• master
• smother
• smoke
• rout
• annihilate
• dust
• take
• overwhelm
• thrash
• sweep
• clobber
• shellac
• eat alive
• snow under
• cap
• exceed
• score
• destroy
• surpass
• run circles around
• trounce
• beat the pants off
• finish
• drub
• conquer
• skunk
• lick
• dispatch
• succeed
• best
• wipe the floor with
• better
• wallop
• whomp
• whup
• tromp
• subdue
• whop
• win (against)
• worst
• crush
• prevail (over)
• subjugate
• surmount
• vanquish
• triumph (over)
• slaughter
• overpower
• outdo
• overthrow
• knock over
• hurdle
• flourish
• overtop
• edge (out)
• excel
• outstrip
• eclipse
• outshine
• transcend
• ace (out)
• outdistance
• overmatch
• overbear
• knock off
• sink
• upend
• pip
• break
• nose out
• outfight
• do in

3

as in to shave

to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument

trimmed her bangs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shave
• cut
• clip
• mow
• prune
• pare
• crop
• snip
• bob
• dock
• shear
• cut back
• lop (off)
• nip
• poll
• whittle
• shorten
• stump
• pinch
• curtail
• skive
• manicure

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extend
• lengthen
• elongate

4

as in to decorate

to make more attractive by adding something that is beautiful or becoming

trim a tree for Christmas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decorate
• adorn
• drape
• ornament
• dress
• paint
• embellish
• deck
• beautify
• garnish
• emboss
• enrich
• festoon
• array
• grace
• bedeck
• pretty (up)
• do
• doll up
• gussy up
• bedizen
• emblaze
• blazon
• fancify
• caparison
• ribbon
• glitz (up)
• accessorize
• embroider
• brighten
• do up
• freshen
• fancy up
• trick (out)
• fringe
• braid
• chase
• trap
• fillet
• smarten
• dress up
• spruce (up)
• hang
• figure
• gild
• feather
• lace
• garland
• diamond
• redo
• boss
• frill
• wreathe
• pearl
• appliqué
• flounce
• jewel
• filigree
• gem
• redecorate
• swag
• furbelow
• impearl

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• scar
• disfigure
• spoil
• simplify
• streamline
• mar
• display
• deface
• reveal
• strip
• expose
• bare
• blemish
• dismantle
• uncover
• divest
• denude
• uglify

5

as in to organize

to make neat

trimmed the shrubbery in order to enhance the house's curb appeal

Synonyms & Similar Words

• organize
• arrange
• straighten (up or out)
• neaten
• spruce (up)
• redd (up or out)
• dispose
• order
• pick up
• classify
• array
• tidy (up)
• range
• draw up
• systematize
• codify
• marshal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disrupt
• shuffle
• upset
• scramble
• disturb
• mix (up)
• tumble
• disarray
• muddle
• disarrange
• disorganize
• muss
• jumble
• mess (up)
• disorder
• tousle
• rumple
• discompose
• dishevel

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of trim

Adjective

Trees that are suited to your growing zone and local climate conditions will be easier to maintain over time, but be mindful of the pruning and other types of care trees will need to keep them looking trim, tidy, and healthy. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026

Owner complaints around the current-generation Tundra have included interior rattles and occasional trim or electronic issues. — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Noun

And this shirt, which is a clean and classic delight, the deep blue combining with a brownish trim colour in a way that shouldn’t really work, but really does. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

This list highlights the perennials that benefit most from a fall trim, promoting healthier and more vibrant growth. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2026

Verb

Paramount will have one of it most profitable years in more than 15 years, but that’s come more from trimming costs than fielding blockbusters. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026

Rice was the only Yankee providing any real sign of life, launching his second home run of the night in the eighth inning to trim the deficit to 5-2. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026