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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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
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
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The decision to move elections to November shaves several months off the existing terms of the mayor, vice mayor and commissioners.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
-
For beard trims and shaves, go to Pisterzi in Soho.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The central bank cuts rates to stimulate the economy, but that can reignite inflation, especially when commodity prices like oil surge or supply chains are disrupted.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
-
Penned in partnership with long-time Riva collaborator Officina Italiana Design, the flybridge yacht cuts a sleek, dynamic silhouette with sporty lines and expansive glazing.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The 2026 model, with only minor changes from 2025, is available in Premiere, Reserve and Black Label trims.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
-
The third round of voting trims the field to four restaurants.—
Susan Stapleton,
Des Moines Register,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Joe Rodon clips a pass over the top of the Brentford defence for Calvert-Lewin to contest.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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The holder clips right to your pack or waders and keeps everything in a neat, easy-to-dispense stack.—
Francesca Krempa,
Outside,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
On the downside, using the camera at 4K noticeably crops the lens view.—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Prunes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prunes. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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