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
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 May 2026
The olive trees on the property are pruned sparingly, watered once a week during their first year, and left to take deep root in soil that will sustain them for decades.
—Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Plants are less likely to catch fire if they are properly irrigated, pruned to remove all dead material, and free of fallen leaves, needles and twigs.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
If the only new growth is from the base of the plant, the entire top woody section has died back and it can be pruned to the ground.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 9 May 2026
Specimens in containers can be pruned to just 3 feet tall if needed.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 2 May 2026
However, spruce and fir trees originate new growth from lateral buds rather than terminal buds, so they are pruned in late winter to minimize the sap and resin flow from wounds.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
These shoots should be pruned since ants will carry scale insects onto the plants via ground-rubbing leaves.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
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
Never leave pruned plant debris lying around the base of the tomato.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
Aucuba can be pruned or left to grow to 10 feet tall, though there are more compact varieties.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 May 2026
The olive trees on the property are pruned sparingly, watered once a week during their first year, and left to take deep root in soil that will sustain them for decades.
—Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Plants are less likely to catch fire if they are properly irrigated, pruned to remove all dead material, and free of fallen leaves, needles and twigs.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
If the only new growth is from the base of the plant, the entire top woody section has died back and it can be pruned to the ground.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 9 May 2026
Specimens in containers can be pruned to just 3 feet tall if needed.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 2 May 2026
However, spruce and fir trees originate new growth from lateral buds rather than terminal buds, so they are pruned in late winter to minimize the sap and resin flow from wounds.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
These shoots should be pruned since ants will carry scale insects onto the plants via ground-rubbing leaves.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
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
Adjective
-
Air drying your un-trimmed hair might feel flat and weighed down, making some of the features in your face feel out of proportion.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
30 May 2026
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Even the trimmed figure dwarfs anything a comparable-stage technology company has ever committed to operational spending.—
Paulo Carvão,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
Darby Allin Fans were very thirsty to see MJF have his head shaved bald.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
-
Stone famously shaved off all of her hair in 2024 for her role in Bugonia.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
21 May 2026
Verb
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The shortstop also rocketed a 441-foot, two-run home run off Giants right-hander Keaton Winn in the eighth to cut San Francisco’s lead to 4-3.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
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Based on 2026 opening day figures, eight teams would have to cut payroll to get under the cap.—
Ronald Blum,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The outstanding Adam Wharton clipped a glorious pass into the penalty area, but an unmarked Tyrick Mitchell mistimed his header and could only direct the ball wide from close range.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
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The eye-catching details were clipped on both sides of her space buns, while a third of her hair was pulled into a low ponytail.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pruned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pruned. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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