pruning

verb

present participle of prune
as in shaving
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

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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 pruning These meek pay hikes parallel local bosses pruning staff in early 2026. — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 10 Aug. 2026 Many modern cultivars maintain compact forms without pruning. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2026 Vasylchyshyna says the second half is pruning on an appropriate day when the weather is warm and dry. — Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 8 Aug. 2026 Such weather favored flowering, and Chow responded by pruning to prevent deformed or small fruit while stepping up watering and fertilization because of the heat. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 For specific issues with boxwood blight, Goetz recommends pruning the affected area to prevent the disease from spreading. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026 Natural treatments include pruning affected areas, spraying with water, applying rubbing alcohol, or using horticultural oils. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pruning
  1. shaving
  2. trimming
  3. cutting
  4. clipping
  5. mowing
Verb
  • With competition so fierce in the race to build and release the latest AI models however, the expediency of shaving off every possible drag on speed trumps all.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Kath is competitive only about things that matter, like logging steps or shaving her legs, and the game had no bearing on her reality.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of shaving
Verb
  • Haskell's team is also staying high in quality and coupons, trimming lower-coupon exposures in favor of those that are upward of 5% that the firm thinks are better poised to handle periods of market uncertainty.
    — Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Cut the fennel bulbs into quarters, trimming just a bit of the core (leave enough to hold the layers together), then slice thin.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of trimming
Verb
  • San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie livestreamed a ribbon-cutting ceremony early Thursday as the new Grocery Outlet store opened its doors.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Torrents overwhelmed infrastructure, cutting power to tens of thousands of homes, flooding about 170 houses and blocking roads, while a landslide hit Togane and muddy water inundated cars and railway tracks.
    — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of cutting
Verb
  • Algorithmic video feeds have accelerated this transition, as more and more podcast companies see clipping for TikTok and the like as the primary discovery method for podcasts — and, in some cases, whole brands.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • His platform pays armies of short-form video clippers to flood feeds for brands, the model behind the clipping farms driving fintech marketing and crypto gambling's viral machine.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of clipping
Verb
  • From mowing at the right time to raking leaves at the right time, the when is as important as the how.
    — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In the face of all this, why not find a boy from your hometown who makes good money mowing lawns or building homes or doing some other AI-proof work?
    — Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of mowing

Browse Nearby Words

prunes
pruning
prurience
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Cite this Entry

“Pruning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pruning. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of pruning for Spanish Speakers

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