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
Sporadic blooms may open during summer with a few varieties, but these are often lost during pruning.
—
Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
Harder tasks, like pruning and repotting plants, offer more money.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjust pruning to create a good balance of both.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026
If the tree has areas of dense growth, inward- or upright-growing shoots, or poor structure, pruning is in order.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Light pruning in early spring encourages strong stems that will support the flowers, along with dense, leafy growth.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2026
Below, Pritts offers his advice when pruning pomegranate trees.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 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
Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
Harder tasks, like pruning and repotting plants, offer more money.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjust pruning to create a good balance of both.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026
If the tree has areas of dense growth, inward- or upright-growing shoots, or poor structure, pruning is in order.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Light pruning in early spring encourages strong stems that will support the flowers, along with dense, leafy growth.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2026
Below, Pritts offers his advice when pruning pomegranate trees.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 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
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That's because these plug-in or balcony solar panels start shaving off part of a homeowner's or renter's utility bill right away.—
Jeff Brady,
NPR,
12 Mar. 2026
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Jalen Smith, one of the men alleged to have helped perpetrate a sprawling college basketball point-shaving scheme, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to charges stemming from a Department of Justice indictment that unspooled the gambling ring.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Officials will spend months trimming, adding to and massaging the financial books to address residents’ priorities.—
Devyani Chhetri,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Mar. 2026
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In 2018, seventeen-year-old landscaper Alex Childress was rushed to the hospital with third-degree burns on his face after unknowingly trimming giant hogweed.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Virginia made one last push, cutting TCU’s lead to 65-55, but the Horned Frogs quickly delivered the knockout blow as Miles knocked down a 3 and Suarez hit sophomore center Clara Silva for a layup to end Virginia’s hopes of another upset.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
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Huston’s come a long way from cutting hair near 87th Street and Wornall Road.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Woods had rolled his vehicle after clipping the backend of the trailer, said the official, and was arrested for DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test — Woods refused a urinalysis, according to police.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
27 Mar. 2026
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Over the past year, clipping has become such an integral part of music promotion that many major and independent record companies now offer it in their suite of marketing tools, often hiring outside agencies to run clipping campaigns for both frontline and legacy acts.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Although forests store far more carbon overall in wood and soil, lawns can still play a supporting role by storing carbon mostly belowground, as long as maintenance inputs like fertilizer, mowing fuel, and irrigation are kept in check.—
Dr. Avishesh Neupane,
Hartford Courant,
21 Mar. 2026
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The wood jambs supporting your front and back entryways can quickly get coated with pollen during springtime, and mowing and raking the lawn kicks up dust and dirt that settles along the frame.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pruning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pruning. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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