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
If pruning for routine winter maintenance, select branches from your trimmings to bring inside.
—
Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025
Feel free to prune it back as much as needed — even to within a few feet of the ground.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
Now is a good time for prep work like pruning and removing debris.
—Alissa Widman Neese, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025
In years of extreme weather, early pruning practices are key to achieving the balanced ripening Herrero prefers.
—Jill Barth, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prune
Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025
Feel free to prune it back as much as needed — even to within a few feet of the ground.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
Now is a good time for prep work like pruning and removing debris.
—Alissa Widman Neese, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025
In years of extreme weather, early pruning practices are key to achieving the balanced ripening Herrero prefers.
—Jill Barth, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prune
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prune
Verb
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In a campus webinar Wednesday, Duke Executive Vice President Daniel Ennis and Antwan Lofton, its VP for human resources, summarized some of the actions Duke has taken or will be introducing in the coming weeks to shave costs.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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Legislators may also take up legislation this year to shave off some of the tax revenue the state currently collects from property insurers and redirect it toward a grant program for fire-resistant roofs and vegetation management work.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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With the new order, Trump is threatening to cut federal funds to cities and states his Administration decides are blocking his mass deportation effort.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
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The state says the rule is crucial to meeting greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and cutting smog-forming pollutants.—
David Shepardson,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Keep it simple and sweet by wrapping paper into a cone, trimming the excess if desired, and securing it with tape.—
Valerie Fraser Luesse,
Southern Living,
24 Apr. 2025
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With trade tensions spooking price-sensitive consumers and high-flying decision-makers within their ranks, airlines are trimming costs, capacity, and expectations — all while hoping for smoother skies ahead.—
Catherine Baab,
Quartz,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In lawns, take care not to mow too low, as this opens the canopy to seed establishment.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2025
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Mind you, traditional maintenance crews still mow the fairways and greens at this club.—
Scott Kramer,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prune. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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