prune

verb

Definition of prunenext
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

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 prune 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 He was paired with a more experienced colleague and learned through instruction and hands-on practice how to care for pines and azaleas, mainly using a hand-pruning technique essential for the Imperial Palace and villas. — Hiroshige Yazawa Japan News, Arkansas Online, 19 July 2026 And one way to ensure this plant keeps producing delicious fruit throughout the season is by pruning. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for prune
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prune
  1. shave
  2. cut
  3. trim
  4. mow
Verb
  • Company demo footage also shows the reverse gear doubling as a cleanup tool, letting the mower retrace a path to shave down long grass more than twice its own height.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 July 2026
  • That pattern is your case for a warranty claim — not a reason to shave more aggressively.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
Definition of shave
Verb
  • At the same time, the data shows, courts have severely cut the length of time many people are getting to prepare for complex immigration proceedings, from about six months to often just a little more than a month.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Using a paring knife, mark a smaller square inside each pastry square, leaving a 1/2 inch border (do not cut all the way through the dough).
    — Torie Cox, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of cut
Verb
  • The Halos trimmed the deficit to 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth when Vaughn Grissom singled and Denzer Guzman drove an opposite-field, two-run homer to right-center, his fifth of the season.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of trim
Verb
  • Unlike many apps that accompany smart tech, Anthbot's is made for people who might be setting up their first self-mowing gadget.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 July 2026
  • To achieve this look, start by mowing around the perimeter of your yard, then mow straight across the lawn, turn around, and cut in the opposite direction from an adjacent line.
    — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 18 July 2026
Definition of mow

Browse Nearby Words

prudishness
prune
pruned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prune. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of prune for Spanish Speakers

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