prunes

present tense third-person singular of prune
as in shaves
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 prunes Cadet, who spent several years working as a florist, prunes the thick green stems of the faux lilies and roses. Elly Fishman, Vogue, 8 May 2026 Van Tassel prunes her tomatoes throughout the season for better air circulation. Lauren David, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prunes
Verb
  • That shaves a year off the typical 120-hour bachelor’s degree.
    ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • For example, using behind-the-meter battery storage or local generation during peak windows actively shaves expensive demand charges without sacrificing performance.
    Ray Fernandez, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Hassouna soon cuts to the aftermath of warning strikes that have destroyed 12 houses near the Shujaiya quarter of Gaza City.
    Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The script by Nattiv and Noa Berman Herzberg cuts between two timelines.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The change, announced in a presentation on Wednesday, is part of a broader shift in Microsoft’s reporting structure, as the company trims its operating segments from three to two.
    Jordan Novet, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
  • To make things easier, Instagram rolled out a new First Draft tool on Tuesday that automatically trims your clips and prepares them for the next stage of the editing process.
    Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • All of my essentials are packed in my Stowaway, which clips into my weekender as a bag organizer, and can clip out to be worn on its own as a crossbody when walking around during the day or as a clutch when going out in the evening.
    Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 16 July 2026
  • This compact tote folds into a small pouch that clips directly onto your keys and expands into a functional bag when needed.
    Corein Carter, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Scrolling through Reddit and X feels claustrophobic because the screen aggressively crops out so much content.
    Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026
  • When a user uploads a photo, the algorithm locates the bee, crops the image and compares it to our database.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Prunes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prunes. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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