pruned 1 of 2

pruned

2 of 2

verb

past tense of prune
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pruned
Adjective
Never leave pruned plant debris lying around the base of the tomato. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
They can be pruned as early as fall and as late as spring before new growth starts. Heather Bien, The Spruce, 17 Aug. 2026 Beyond this zone, vegetation should be pruned, thinned and adequately spaced to avoid flames easily spreading. John Abatzoglou, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026 Airlines pruned schedules this year, which can mean fewer flights per day or week on a certain route. Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026 Everbearing varieties can be pruned for either a single fall crop or two harvests. Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 27 July 2026 Look for citrus varieties grafted onto dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstock so the citrus tree stays small and doesn’t need to be pruned or re-potted as often. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2026 But this year the shrub and tree forms, pruned and unpruned, are full of colorful clusters of blooms. Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026 Like their patron, mary in the junkyard’s work is rooted in an experimentalism that’s pruned into the kinds of shapes a passing commuter can quickly understand. Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 7 July 2026 The result is a system that’s less capable generally but still very good at the specific job it was pruned for, Rovai says. David Berreby, IEEE Spectrum, 6 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pruned
Adjective
  • The fix is usually a trimmed hedge and a simple letter.
    Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2026
  • Prevent ant hills by maintaining trimmed grass, removing debris, tilling soil, and planting pest-repellent herbs like mint or basil.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Luckily, Atlanta is home to a wider world of frozen desserts, from Indonesian shaved ice to Mexican popsicles.
    Lia Picard - For the AJC, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • At 25, England cricketer Chris Lewis experienced an even more direct consequence after team-mate Devon Malcolm shaved his head during England’s 1994 West Indies tour to raise money for Children in Need.
    Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The threat of shortages pushed countries across Asia to impose export bans, cut import duties, and start rationing fuel to maintain supplies.
    Katie Silver, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike the heavy smoky eyes and cut creases of the 2010s, this trend is throwing it back to the 1990s when smoky eyes were more minimalist.
    Elle Turner, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Councilwoman Laura Madigan, D-Ward 1, said the issue surfaced again about two years ago after a semi-truck apparently clipped a new streetlight while making the turn onto Lincoln Street.
    Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026
  • His rhythm is clipped instead of musical, and Truman chooses to emphasize the words of his speech without emotion.
    USA Today, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pruned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pruned. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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