Synonyms of pruning

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

• shaving
• trimming
• cutting
• clipping
• mowing
• shearing
• cropping
• paring
• snipping
• bobbing
• cutting back
• docking
• polling
• nipping
• lopping (off)
• whittling
• manicuring
• shortening
• pinching
• curtailing
• skiving
• stumping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lengthening
• extending
• elongating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pruning

Moor explains how this form of thought emphasizes branching, growth, and pruning, as opposed to hierarchical ordering, and shows how these principles can be identified in the work of writers like Tolstoy and Wordsworth. — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026

Consider applying an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil after pruning to smother scale and insect eggs to the dormant roses. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2026

As days get shorter, there’s no need to worry about sunlight, watering, or pruning with these autumnal picks from Amazon. — Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2026

If pruning the entire plant, use pruners to cut back your daylilies to a few inches above the ground. — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 8 Sep. 2026

At least one officer with the Los Angeles Police Department shot a man who was allegedly armed with a pruning pole on Monday morning, authorities said. — Austin Turner, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026

However, pruning at planting is essential for developing a strong, productive canopy. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 21 Aug. 2026