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

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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 Such weather favored flowering, and Chow responded by pruning to prevent deformed or small fruit while stepping up watering and fertilization because of the heat. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 For specific issues with boxwood blight, Goetz recommends pruning the affected area to prevent the disease from spreading. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026 Natural treatments include pruning affected areas, spraying with water, applying rubbing alcohol, or using horticultural oils. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2026 Boxwoods react well to pruning and are great candidates for topiaries or regular shaping. — The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026 Signs pothos needs pruning include the vines are too long, the plant puts out fewer leaves, or the leaves are turning yellow. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2026 Daily tours allow the public to view the colorful creations and sometimes even spot the monarch himself out dead-heading the roses or pruning shrubs. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026 Because the cost of not pruning is cumulative and easy to miss. — Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pruning
  1. shaving
  2. trimming
  3. cutting
  4. clipping
  5. mowing
Verb
  • Try roasting it with olive oil and salt, sautéing it and adding it to a pasta or grain bowl, or shaving it with a vegetable peeler and adding the raw strips to a salad for some crunch.
    — Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 20 July 2026
  • And while the results last much longer than shaving, each session typically takes more time, especially when treating larger areas like the legs.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 17 July 2026
Definition of shaving
Verb
  • Three-year programs typically work by reducing the credit requirement from 120 down to 90 or 100, largely by trimming general education requirements, open electives, and the room for a double major or a semester abroad.
    — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • And trimming too much of this plant can make the tree appear stunted or uneven.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 July 2026
Definition of trimming
Verb
  • When cutting them back in the fall for the winter, leave a few branches for wildlife to use for protection, but be sure to remove all of the dead branches to reduce the risk of diseases.
    — Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Broadcasters of all sizes, especially local station owners, have been battling cord-cutting and coping with ongoing audience and advertiser shifts away from linear viewing.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of cutting
Verb
  • On the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Yamamoto turned to his splitter for the first time, barely clipping the inside edge of the strike zone.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Onwurah wrote the film in a time of fury over a news clipping.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 30 July 2026
Definition of clipping
Verb
  • Start by mowing shorter than usual, then use a handheld spreader for even seed coverage.
    — Amanda Tust, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Prevent clover by fertilizing with nitrogen, mowing taller, watering deeply, and filling bare spots with grass seed.
    — Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of mowing

Browse Nearby Words

prunes
pruning
prurience
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Cite this Entry

“Pruning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pruning. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of pruning for Spanish Speakers

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