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
Renewal pruning is another beneficial technique—cutting back overgrown stems to remove barriers preventing light from reaching inner branches.
—
Emily Leahy, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Usually, lilacs need the renewal method of pruning.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
Keep pruning to a minimum and feed with a fertilizer intended for acid-loving plants in spring.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 1 May 2026
Keep winter squash and pumpkin vines under control, training or pruning them.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
They can be shaped by pruning or left to grow to the size of a small tree.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
Provide a trellis or other growing structure, and refrain from pruning during its first growing season.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 28 Apr. 2026
Next comes pruning — which usually should start when a tree is about five years old.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 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
Emily Leahy, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Usually, lilacs need the renewal method of pruning.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
Keep pruning to a minimum and feed with a fertilizer intended for acid-loving plants in spring.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 1 May 2026
Keep winter squash and pumpkin vines under control, training or pruning them.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
They can be shaped by pruning or left to grow to the size of a small tree.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
Provide a trellis or other growing structure, and refrain from pruning during its first growing season.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 28 Apr. 2026
Next comes pruning — which usually should start when a tree is about five years old.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pruning
Verb
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Back in the day, scandals typically were point-shaving schemes that involved shadowy figures bribing athletes.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Fairley also intends to plead guilty in a separate NCAA point-shaving case in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania over allegedly recruiting players who would accept bribes to influence games, the documents showed.—
Chloe Atkins,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Tried to listen online while the neighbor made enough noise cutting and trimming his yard during the entire game.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
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Steve Anderson was trimming a tree near a power line with his 17-year-old son on Saturday, April 18, when the accident occurred, according to Fox affiliate KOKI.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The 76ers got small cushions, with the Celtics cutting it to a point three additional times.—
Kyle Hightower,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
School systems typically cope with declining enrollment by closing schools and cutting staff, among other options.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Verb
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The lab didn't take DNA samples from each fish, which can be done by clipping off a tiny bit of one fin.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
7 May 2026
-
Piastri was next, then Russell too, clipping the Red Bull’s rear tire with his Mercedes’ front wing.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Tom Coyne mowing the fairway at Sullivan County Golf Club.—
Lee Cowan,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
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Some people simply don’t like the look of grass that’s been left to grow wild — and as the University of Minnesota Extension and others have made clear, mowing on a regular schedule isn’t the environmental villain the loudest voices online have suggested.—
Ryan Brennan
May 1,
Charlotte Observer,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pruning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pruning. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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