as in to shave
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument
pruned the dead branches from the old apple tree
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Recent Examples of prune
Some of this will get pruned during the SEC review.
—
Drew Bernstein, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
Assess your lawn and flowerbeds and pull weeds, prune any overgrown bushes and mow the lawn.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 19 May 2026
Keep these dogwood pruning tips in mind, before getting started.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 11 May 2026
Spring is the most appropriate time to employ these pruning tactics in accordance with lilac’s growing needs.
—Emily Leahy, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prune
Drew Bernstein, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026
Assess your lawn and flowerbeds and pull weeds, prune any overgrown bushes and mow the lawn.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 19 May 2026
Keep these dogwood pruning tips in mind, before getting started.
—Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 11 May 2026
Spring is the most appropriate time to employ these pruning tactics in accordance with lilac’s growing needs.
—Emily Leahy, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prune
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prune
Verb
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The new map has shaved off some of that surplus support to help bolster Democratic odds in neighboring, more competitive swing districts nearer to the Central Valley.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
-
Today, the organization relies on volunteers sponsored by family and friends to shave their heads in solidarity with children who lose their hair during cancer treatments.—
Marianne Love,
Daily News,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The shortstop also rocketed a 441-foot, two-run home run off Giants right-hander Keaton Winn in the eighth to cut San Francisco’s lead to 4-3.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
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Based on 2026 opening day figures, eight teams would have to cut payroll to get under the cap.—
Ronald Blum,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
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New York has trimmed San Antonio’s lead from eight to three, all with Jalen Brunson on the bench with a knee issue.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
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Maintaining your yard by mowing, removing leaf litter, and trimming vegetation reduces tick habitats.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Verb
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One was from a neighbor sick of mowing her double lot, another from a couple of ardent gardeners whose failing health kept them inside.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
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And when manually mowing tall stuff, the bumper can be too sensitive for my bull-in-a-China-shop tastes.—
Joe Salas
May 29,
New Atlas,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prune. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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