as in trimmed
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as in shaved
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 pruned
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
27 June 2026
They are edited, softened, brokered, litigated, sentimentalized, and pruned.
—
Literary Hub,
26 June 2026
When to Prune a Peace Lily Unlike many plants, peace lilies can be pruned at any time of year.
—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
26 June 2026
The leaves peaking out from the hydrangea's crown in the spring need to be pruned to promote new growth, typically by cutting it back to the ground.
—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
24 June 2026
Most plants should be pruned in the fall when the weather is cool.
—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 June 2026
Adjective
Never leave pruned plant debris lying around the base of the tomato.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
Most varieties should be pruned in late winter or early spring.
—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
27 June 2026
They are edited, softened, brokered, litigated, sentimentalized, and pruned.
—
Literary Hub,
26 June 2026
When to Prune a Peace Lily Unlike many plants, peace lilies can be pruned at any time of year.
—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
26 June 2026
The leaves peaking out from the hydrangea's crown in the spring need to be pruned to promote new growth, typically by cutting it back to the ground.
—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
24 June 2026
Most plants should be pruned in the fall when the weather is cool.
—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pruned
Adjective
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The fix is usually a trimmed hedge and a simple letter.
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Prevent ant hills by maintaining trimmed grass, removing debris, tilling soil, and planting pest-repellent herbs like mint or basil.
Verb
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Schaffer said Reiner shaved his trademark beard for the sketch, which filmed on November 13, just a month before Rob and Michele were killed inside their home; their son Nick was arrested and charged with the murders.
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The public-private partnership with the Idaho Transportation Department shaved years off the timeline, with construction that began in early March expected to wrap in December.
Verb
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The lineup already was revving, as Rushing homered in the second inning while Sasaki was still in the game, and both Kyle Tucker and Muncy drove in runs off starter Randy Vasquez in the third, cutting the deficit to two.
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Potential applications beyond wind energy The researchers believe the manufacturing approach could cut production costs for small wind turbines and help more people use lightweight renewable energy technology.
Verb
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His pass to Luis Romo was perhaps a little short but the midfielder kept his cool, finding Roberto Alvarado, who clipped a gorgeous, inviting pass over the top.
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In that game, the Netherlands earned a penalty in stoppage time when the referee deemed that Dutch winger Arjen Robben was clipped in the box by Mexico’s Rafael Márquez.
Cite this Entry
“Pruned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pruned. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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