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

These premium fruits also often require methodical techniques to ensure their signature characteristics, like the precise amount of sunlight or the timing of pruning. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026

Some plants provide winter interest or food for wildlife, so delay pruning until spring. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2026

As cheaper models become uneconomic to produce, manufacturers are pruning them from their line-ups, pushing the overall market higher. — Celestine Iyer, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026

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

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