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
Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
Using sharp paring knife, cut four 1 1/2-inch long slits in top of dough (think of a clock for slit placement at 12,3,6,9 positions).
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
New Atlas, 12 Mar. 2026
Trump had earlier signaled that the conflict with Iran could end soon, sending oil prices plunging 10% before paring losses.
—Sean Conlon,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paring
Noun
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
Using sharp paring knife, cut four 1 1/2-inch long slits in top of dough (think of a clock for slit placement at 12,3,6,9 positions).
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
In this way, adventurers could use the same burner while tailoring their cookware to the individual trip, loading up larger pots and pans for a group overland expedition or paring back to the lightest possible setup for a long-distance backpacking or ski touring adventure.
—New Atlas, 12 Mar. 2026
Trump had earlier signaled that the conflict with Iran could end soon, sending oil prices plunging 10% before paring losses.
—Sean Conlon,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paring
Noun
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Love the leg-shaving reference.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
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Fans making outrageous public bets on social media — shaving heads, getting tattoos, eating bizarre foods — has become its own genre of internet content.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Virginia made one last push, cutting TCU’s lead to 65-55, but the Horned Frogs quickly delivered the knockout blow as Miles knocked down a 3 and Suarez hit sophomore center Clara Silva for a layup to end Virginia’s hopes of another upset.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
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Huston’s come a long way from cutting hair near 87th Street and Wornall Road.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The rise of clipping, says Schwartz, has leveled the promotional playing field as the record business is in the midst of a larger post-streaming transformation.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
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According to Myers’s new book William and Catherine: The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story, after William and Kate were nonchalant about everything, staff turned to historical clippings for inspiration on what to do.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Officials will spend months trimming, adding to and massaging the financial books to address residents’ priorities.—
Devyani Chhetri,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Mar. 2026
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In 2018, seventeen-year-old landscaper Alex Childress was rushed to the hospital with third-degree burns on his face after unknowingly trimming giant hogweed.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The goal is to isolate populations and splinter power.—
Jane M. Saks,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
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The group began as a splinter of Al-Qaeda two decades ago, and in 2013 and 2014 took over several large cities in Iraq and Syria.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Smaller by far and equally jaw-dropping is La Copine, a sliver of a restaurant in nearby Yucca Valley.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
24 Mar. 2026
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The Chokepoint That Moves the World The Strait of Hormuz is a sliver of water barely 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, separating Iran from Oman.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paring. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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