Synonyms of pare

pare

verb

ˈper 

as in to shave

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

pared the stray branches on the tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extend
• lengthen
• elongate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pare

Sparkling yet simple, Gerber’s dress eschewed 1980s high glam for a look that was pared back yet still glamorous enough to evoke the decade. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 28 July 2026

The screenplay by Rasmus Birch and Kalle makes useful changes on that template, replacing crudely literal-minded aspects with more suggestive ones, paring dialogue to make room for effective visual storytelling. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 26 July 2026

Ashley Basile’s spare set—table and chairs, green couch—quietly evokes lives pared down to their bare essentials. — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 24 July 2026

Her music accordingly pares down the signature elements of a genre in which reckless abandon and defiant self-expression have long been central. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026