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
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Recent Examples of paring
Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Dec. 2025
This 13-piece knife set has six handy blades, including a large chef’s knife for chopping and a paring blade for smaller slices.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Aluminum prices surged to four-year highs earlier this month before paring some of those gains.
—Garrett Downs,azhar Sukri, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paring
Noun
Wüsthof’s Classic paring knife is sharp, well-made, and high quality.
—Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Dec. 2025
This 13-piece knife set has six handy blades, including a large chef’s knife for chopping and a paring blade for smaller slices.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Verb
On these tracks Slayyyter uses her voice as a much blunter instrument than before, paring back the melisma and amping up the chants, barks, and outright screams.
—Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Aluminum prices surged to four-year highs earlier this month before paring some of those gains.
—Garrett Downs,azhar Sukri, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paring
Noun
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While no actual showers were possible, each astronaut had a personal kit including no-rinse shampoo, baby wipes, toothbrushes and shaving accessories.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
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While some users questioned the logic behind the move, others were particularly alarmed by the environment in which the shaving took place.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This is an unsustainable path if the state hopes to avoid cutting health, education and other priorities.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
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Another option is to remove some of the pups, by cutting under the plants, and gathering the leaves with roots.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Chavez was the only person from his hometown of Gallup, New Mexico to be unaccounted for in the conflict, according to a local news clipping.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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So super clipping has been capped at 200 kW, leaving the other 200 kW (268 hp) to push the car.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Start by trimming the tough, dry ends off the bunch and chop them into little logs.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Apr. 2026
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Get a hedge-and-branch trimming bundle at a huge discount.—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In 1903, a vicious winter storm reduced most of the piers to splinters, and by 1906 offshore oil production at Summerland had all but ceased.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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Upon impact, cannonballs would have sent wooden splinters flying like debris from grenades.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And perhaps the latest sliver of hope for fans is that Juan Soto, their superstar outfielder, is expected to return to the lineup after dealing with a calf strain.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
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Just off the North Carolina coast, there's a trio of sliver-thin barrier islands known as theOuter Banks.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paring. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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