as in to shave
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 prune
Any vines that are overwhelming a tree in this fashion need to be removed or drastically pruned.
—
Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Harder tasks, like pruning and repotting plants, offer more money.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
They’re thoughtfully placed and well pruned.
—Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026
Avoid pruning more than one-third of the growth, as this can lead to stunted blooms.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prune
Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
Harder tasks, like pruning and repotting plants, offer more money.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
They’re thoughtfully placed and well pruned.
—Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026
Avoid pruning more than one-third of the growth, as this can lead to stunted blooms.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prune
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prune
Verb
-
Due to severely matted fur, much of his coat had to be shaved.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
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On Tuesday, March 31, the New England Patriots star quarterback shaved his head at Granite Telecommunications' annual Saving by Shaving fundraiser.—
Catherine Messier,
The Providence Journal,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Cavaliers led by as many as 36 points, but the Heat went on a third-quarter run to cut the deficit to 19 in the final seconds of the period.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Reduce the lot size, cut the square footage, and a house should cost less, supporters said.—
Mark Dee
March 28,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Build buffer time, trim one commitment, then return to the itinerary with even gentler expectations and a simpler packing list.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
His volunteering includes helping seniors by mowing their lawns, trimming their hedges and bringing them dinner on holidays.—
Janice Neumann,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The grass is freshly mowed, the dirt and chalk lines finely groomed.—
Michael McGough,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
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The commission agreed to allow Earthrise to mow the property only once between May and October, rather than five times as required by statute, as the company said more mowings could negatively affect native pollinators and habitats.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prune. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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