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
However, some plants need their foliage for protection over the winter and should instead be pruned in the spring. — Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 22 Sep. 2026 Climbing Roses Climbing roses should not be pruned in the fall except to remove broken branches. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2026 Small plantings can be pruned back by hand with pruners, while larger beds can be tackled by mowing the plants down with your lawnmower deck set on the highest setting. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Sep. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pruned
Adjective
  • The seat is the sail, trimmed and re-trimmed as the wind changes.
    — Rob Green, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The fix is usually a trimmed hedge and a simple letter.
    — Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Apparently, Tony Romo shaved two strokes off his final round scorecard.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Every 10 basis points shaved off a $1 billion Eurobond saves an issuer $1 million a year.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Inspectors observed cutting boards with cut marks and no longer cleanable in the first-floor kitchen.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Ellison has taken an opposing view from his predecessors who confronted crumbling industry economics by cutting expenditures to boost their corporate bottom lines.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The misjudgment meant the plane clipped a peak and crashed into a valley.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Ohtani clipped Drake Baldwin’s mitt with his bat and was awarded first base for catcher’s interference.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pruned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pruned. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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