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

Big companies like UnitedHealth Group, Humana, and others are chasing higher profits by pruning benefits, after investors grew dissatisfied with margins that were smaller than the insurers had promised. — Bob Herman, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026

Pruning ‘Kaleidoscope’ Abelia ‘Kaleidoscope’ Abelia naturally develops a low mounding crown that requires little pruning to maintain. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2026

Like many bulbs, lilies store nutrients in their bulbs over winter, so pruning too early can reduce next year’s blooms of these perennial flowers. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2026

Unfolding through a single, intimate scene, the film brings together a group of people quietly pruning bonsai trees in unison. — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

Gregory Hair, the founder and managing director of SLIDE Living, also recommends pruning your hibiscus lightly. — Jane Kim, The Spruce, 26 Sep. 2026

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