pruned 1 of 2

adjective

as in trimmed

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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

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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
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 Scott adds that climbing roses should be fertilized in the spring and pruned in late winter. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 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 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 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
  1. trimmed
  2. shaved
  3. cut
  4. clipped
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
Definition of trimmed
Verb
  • The Braves are still trying to wiggle out of a mid-season rut, and have shaved their lead in the NL East to just three games ahead of the Phillies.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
  • 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.
    — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 4 July 2026
Definition of shaved
Verb
  • The first due to a slip from Porro, which allowed Andy Robertson to cut the ball back for McTominay.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • The Odyssey’s crew is full of longtime Nolan collaborators, from cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, who has worked with Nolan since Interstellar, to editor Jennifer Lame, who previously cut Tenet and Oppenheimer.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of cut
Verb
  • Shapiro clipped several comments from Vance about the GOP’s duty to counter the rise of socialism among young people in the United States.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 17 July 2026
  • Officials shut down Markham Street between Barton and Thayer streets Monday evening after the truck clipped the bottom of the bridge, city traffic operations technician Chong Lor said Tuesday morning.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 July 2026
Definition of clipped

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Cite this Entry

“Pruned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pruned. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pruned

Nglish: Translation of pruned for Spanish Speakers

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