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
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Recent Examples of pruning
Beautyberry bushes need pruning to maintain their shape and watering during dry periods.
—
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
Many injuries happen because people try to complete an entire weekend’s worth of digging, pruning or planting in a single day.
—Dr. Kęstutis Braziulis, USA Today, 17 May 2026
With proper care, including pruning and sunlight, goji berries will produce heavily for years with minimal effort.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 15 May 2026
To give it a little boost and your yard some extra shade, try planting a row of fast-growing hedges and pruning them under the fence line.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 13 May 2026
Although watermelons generally don’t need pruning, training vines to grow on trellises can increase airflow and reduce mildew.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2026
Spring is the most appropriate time to employ these pruning tactics in accordance with lilac’s growing needs.
—Emily Leahy, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
This easy task is known as thumb pruning and facilitates keeping the bush open to air and sun.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2025
Work pruning and removing trees began in the fall and is expected to be finished in early Spring 2025, officials said.
—Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2025
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
Many injuries happen because people try to complete an entire weekend’s worth of digging, pruning or planting in a single day.
—Dr. Kęstutis Braziulis, USA Today, 17 May 2026
With proper care, including pruning and sunlight, goji berries will produce heavily for years with minimal effort.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 15 May 2026
To give it a little boost and your yard some extra shade, try planting a row of fast-growing hedges and pruning them under the fence line.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 13 May 2026
Although watermelons generally don’t need pruning, training vines to grow on trellises can increase airflow and reduce mildew.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2026
Spring is the most appropriate time to employ these pruning tactics in accordance with lilac’s growing needs.
—Emily Leahy, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
This easy task is known as thumb pruning and facilitates keeping the bush open to air and sun.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2025
Work pruning and removing trees began in the fall and is expected to be finished in early Spring 2025, officials said.
—Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pruning
Verb
-
This awesome little robovac-mop is literally shaving a full workday a week off her already insane I'm-a-mom schedule.—
Joe Salas
May 09,
New Atlas,
9 May 2026
-
Sobbing while shaving head in…what’s that movie?—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Mamdani’s Executive Budget rightly addresses some of this excess, trimming DOC’s uniformed headcount by 586 positions, and putting the city on track to save $78 million next year.—
Jason Rodriguez,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
-
The conglomerate also fully exited Amazon after trimming the position late last year.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The Tempo didn’t make things easy, cutting the deficit to two points late and later trailing by just three with 31 seconds remaining and possession of the ball.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
-
The bridge demonstrates a new, lighter approach to low-carbon infrastructure, cutting waste and CO₂ by depositing concrete only where needed.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Since then, and especially over the past year, clipping has gone professional.—
Lane Brown,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
-
Thin Extra Seedlings After the seeds sprout and are a few inches tall with true leaves, thin out the weakest plants by clipping them off at the soil line with scissors.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Red clover stands taller, is less amenable to mowing, and can be short-lived.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
-
Avoid mowing in the early morning or mid-day, as wet grass and strong sunlight can harm your lawn.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pruning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pruning. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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