paring 1 of 2

noun

Definition of paringnext
as in shaving

Related Words

Relevance

paring

2 of 2

verb

present participle of pare
as in cutting
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument pared the stray branches on the tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 paring
Noun
Rumors of a Nader-Savchenko romance began sparking shortly after their paring on DWTS. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026 The paring could be between a person and either an AI tool or an AI agent. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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 However, Stewart started paring down her business in recent years. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for paring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paring
  1. shaving
  2. cutting
  3. clipping
  4. trimming
  5. splinter
  6. sliver
Noun
  • Advice is likely to move upstream, away from shaving fixes and toward friction reduction.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
  • Chlorine doesn't magically seal a shaving nick, scraped knee, or healing surgical incision.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 20 July 2026
Definition of shaving
Verb
  • When cutting them back in the fall for the winter, leave a few branches for wildlife to use for protection, but be sure to remove all of the dead branches to reduce the risk of diseases.
    — Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Broadcasters of all sizes, especially local station owners, have been battling cord-cutting and coping with ongoing audience and advertiser shifts away from linear viewing.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of cutting
Noun
  • According to a clipping of an article written in the Jamaica Observer, Malcolm was also a dance instructor.
    — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
  • That includes a bath with breed-appropriate shampoo, a blow-dry and brush-out, a haircut or trim based on breed and preference, nail clipping and filing, ear cleaning and eye area cleaning.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
Definition of clipping
Verb
  • Three-year programs typically work by reducing the credit requirement from 120 down to 90 or 100, largely by trimming general education requirements, open electives, and the room for a double major or a semester abroad.
    — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • And trimming too much of this plant can make the tree appear stunted or uneven.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 July 2026
Definition of trimming
Noun
  • Designed for patios, balconies, porches, pool decks, and walkways that could use a little TLC, the 12-inch tiles are waterproof, splinter-free, and bring the warmth of real wood to an outdoor space on a budget.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2026
  • Legend has it this imperative caused the park’s architect, William Russell Everitt, to smash the original model to splinters with a baseball bat.
    — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 13 July 2026
Definition of splinter
Noun
  • That’s because even if the tiniest sliver of the sun remains visible, the landscape stays surprisingly bright, the sky never falls into twilight, and the sun’s spectacular corona remains hidden.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Friends of Big Bear Valley launched it in February to stop the Moon Camp development on what conservationists call the last undeveloped sliver of Big Bear Lake’s shoreline.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of sliver

Browse Nearby Words

pariahs
paring
parings
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Paring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paring. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on paring

Nglish: Translation of paring for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of anecdote

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All