elide
Drop in speech
To elide is to omit or leave out.
In speech, we elide sounds that would be awkward to pronounce: "I'm" elides the *a* in "I am." In writing, eliding means cutting unnecessary material.
More broadly, to elide distinctions or differences is to gloss over them, treating separate things as one: The article elides the difference between correlation and causation.
Reduce in extent
- abbreviateReduce word length
- truncateCut off abruptly
- condenseMake more compact
- compressReduce volume by force
abridge · contract · reduce · clip · curtail · syncopate · syncope · blend
Leave something out
cut · remove · exclude · pass over · overlook · neglect · disregard · bypass
Insulting group label
- glideMove with effortless continuity
- swallowSend down the throat
- dropFall or release
- mumbleSpeak softly, indistinctly
unstressed · reduction · weakening · schwa · liaison · assimilation · rapid speech · casual speech
Refuse to notice
- sidestepEvade by moving aside
- circumventAvoid by going around
- evadeEscape by cunning
- avoidStay away from
skirt · dodge · finesse · gloss over · paper over · smooth over · downplay · minimize
shorten
Reduce in extent
- abbreviateReduce word length
- truncateCut off abruptly
- condenseMake more compact
compress · abridge · contract · reduce · clip · curtail · syncopate · syncope · blend · telescope
omit
Leave something out
delete · cut · remove · exclude · pass over · overlook · neglect · disregard · bypass · eliminate
blend
Combine into mixture
join · link · combine · conflate · coalesce · meld · unite · connect · liaise · smooth over
slur
Insulting group label
mumble · unstressed · reduction · weakening · schwa · liaison · assimilation · rapid speech · casual speech
ignore
Refuse to notice
- sidestepEvade by moving aside
- circumventAvoid by going around
- evadeEscape by cunning
avoid · skirt · dodge · finesse · gloss over · paper over · smooth over · downplay · minimize · suppress
- dismissingbrush aside, brush off, wave off, shrug off, blow off
elidescrutinize
Inspect with close attention
highlight · emphasize · underscore · spotlight · examine