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
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2025
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
The fence corners are clean, so are the ditches, and the fruit trees have been pruned and sprayed.
—Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 23 Oct. 2025
When experiences don’t occur, that particular set of connections won’t be made, because neurons that aren’t seeing any action get pruned away to keep our brains working efficiently.
—Big Think, 22 Oct. 2025
In warmer regions, some ornamental grasses might not need to be pruned annually.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
Outside the home, keep tree branches pruned, and as far away from the house as possible.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Several botanic gardens, such as South Coast Botanic Gardens in Rolling Hills Estates and the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, have tulip and bulb gardens — the Huntington plants them in its famous rose garden to create filler color after the roses are pruned.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Even if a tree belongs to your neighbor, do not throw pruned branches onto their property for cleanup.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
Evergreens can be pruned in the spring after their new growth for the season is complete.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
The fence corners are clean, so are the ditches, and the fruit trees have been pruned and sprayed.
—Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 23 Oct. 2025
When experiences don’t occur, that particular set of connections won’t be made, because neurons that aren’t seeing any action get pruned away to keep our brains working efficiently.
—Big Think, 22 Oct. 2025
In warmer regions, some ornamental grasses might not need to be pruned annually.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
Outside the home, keep tree branches pruned, and as far away from the house as possible.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Several botanic gardens, such as South Coast Botanic Gardens in Rolling Hills Estates and the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, have tulip and bulb gardens — the Huntington plants them in its famous rose garden to create filler color after the roses are pruned.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pruned
Verb
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When Landor couldn’t immediately meet the warden’s demand for court documentation of his religious beliefs, he was handcuffed to a chair while his dreadlocks were shaved off.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
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Angel’s Tijuana Tacos started as a single street-stand operation on a North Hollywood sidewalk in 2018, soon gaining a reputation for its simple approach to Tijuana-style tacos, particularly for its stellar al pastor shaved right off the vertical trompo.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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United Airlines said its international flights and hub-to-hub operations will not be trimmed.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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Was the younger Lincoln a part of material drafted for a lengthier second half of the series that got trimmed?—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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An emergency order by the FAA on Thursday said airlines have to cut traffic by 4%, resulting in about 800 flight cancellations for Friday that increased to over 1,000 throughout the day, according to FlightAware.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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Southwest Airlines cut about 120 flights Friday.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Once Jeopardy's John Pork question was clipped for TikTok, users on the platform argued that the clue wasn't completely accurate, as John Pork appeared on social media as early as 2018, before generative AI was widely accessible.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Nov. 2025
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Gausman allowed a solo home run to Dodgers catcher Will Smith, and two batters later, he got clipped by third baseman Max Muncy.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pruned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pruned. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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