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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Byron recommends establishing rosemary before pruning it.
—
Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 23 May 2026
After pruning, apply a copper fungicide or similar product following label instructions.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026
After pruning, your rosemary plants may surprise you and bloom at sporadic times of year.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 May 2026
Gardening often involves repeating the same movements for extended periods – especially during pruning, weeding or planting.
—Dr. Kęstutis Braziulis, USA Today, 17 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
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
Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 23 May 2026
After pruning, apply a copper fungicide or similar product following label instructions.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026
After pruning, your rosemary plants may surprise you and bloom at sporadic times of year.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 May 2026
Gardening often involves repeating the same movements for extended periods – especially during pruning, weeding or planting.
—Dr. Kęstutis Braziulis, USA Today, 17 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
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
-
The people who stand to gain the most from this record-setting refresh rate are high-level competitors with PCs that can push extremely high frame rates, for whom shaving down the smallest fractions of latency can make a real difference.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 May 2026
-
In practical terms, that is roughly a 1–2 percent reduction in total mission velocity change, which is the equivalent of shaving a few liters off every hundred liters in a long-distance road trip.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Protective measures range from trimming at-risk tree branches to replacing flimsy exterior doors with stronger ones.—
Jennifer Borresen,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Michael is stepping into a really key role trimming the wing, which is probably one of the harder roles on the F50.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Or are the Red Sox better off cutting their losses, selling their pending free agents and looking ahead to 2027?—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
-
For fiscal year 2026, the administration proposed cutting NOAA’s budget by roughly 25 percent and eliminating the agency's research arm, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, the division that houses much of its climate work.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
There was also, again strangely, slightly more clipping on show in very bright areas in the Bravia 9 II’s Standard and Movie presets than there was on the original Bravia 9, even though the Bravia 9 II actually displayed less clipping than its predecessor in Professional mode.—
John Archer,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
Manager Dave Roberts said the ball mostly hit the pad on Ohtani's hand before clipping his pinkie finger.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Yard Work and Outdoor Help Summer is the perfect season for simple neighborhood jobs like helping water plants, pulling weeds, mowing lawns, and helping others with light outdoor chores.—
VaNessa Duplessie,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
On a major league baseball field, the mowing direction plays a big part in creating the intricate outfield designs and signature stripes in the lawn.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pruning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pruning. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
