1
as in to shave
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument
it took almost a week to shear all the wool off the flock of sheep
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to slit
to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife)
the shark's razor-sharp teeth sheared the swimmer's flesh right down to the bone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shear
The speed at which an object orbits a planet depends on its distance from that world, and Saturn’s ring was so wide that the inner edge would orbit much more rapidly than its outer edge, which would shear anything solid apart.
—
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 17 July 2025
Plants that benefit from shearing a couple of times during the growing season are thread-leaf coreopsis, common petunias, catmint, and salvia.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 July 2025
An azalea hedge is where a gardener’s preferred style comes into play: should it be sheared or unsheared?
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2025
The white shark sheared the striped bass in half, and then quickly took off.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shear
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 17 July 2025
Plants that benefit from shearing a couple of times during the growing season are thread-leaf coreopsis, common petunias, catmint, and salvia.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 July 2025
An azalea hedge is where a gardener’s preferred style comes into play: should it be sheared or unsheared?
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2025
The white shark sheared the striped bass in half, and then quickly took off.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shear
Verb
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For trial, Black suggested that Alvarez shave his mustache to detract from the officer’s rough-guy image.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
22 July 2025
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July 9 was the first of three days in which a millisecond or more could be shaved off the clock on account of how the moon's position relative to Earth is influencing our planet's rotation.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Cruz had stabbed himself in the chest and was trying to slit his own wrists when police arrived at the scene and took him to a local hospital.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
25 July 2025
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When Ogle was arrested in his wife's brutal killing hours after being treated for slitting his left wrist, many former students were struck by the violent reality.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Verb
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The Oak Ridge Boys, Reba McEntire, Jeannie C. Riley, Connie Smith and the duo of Charlie Louvin and Melba Montgomery were among the acts who cut her songs.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
22 July 2025
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The National Endowment for the Humanities cut the grant this spring.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Gently press down on each sandwich, then slice in half.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
19 July 2025
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But what happened next was outright pain: The visceral sensation of a scalpel slicing her skin and tearing across her abdomen.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
16 July 2025
Verb
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Here, the nailhead trim and traditional striped fabric go hand in hand for a statement yet classic bedroom.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
14 July 2025
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Maybe find ways to trim the bureaucracy and lower taxes.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 July 2025
Verb
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On July 21, Colbert ripped Paramount and Trump in his opening monologue.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
24 July 2025
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Now, Donald Trump has ripped the rug out from under them, a betrayal that will be a death sentence for any Afghan national sent back.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
Verb
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But clipping in a hair topper or something like a fake ponytail can provide immediate gratification.—
Jessica Hartshorn,
Flow Space,
18 July 2025
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Some young families attended with their children as well as young professionals dressed in business casual with IDs clipped to their waist.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
17 July 2025
Verb
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Opposition parties have since stymied Lai's agenda, refusing to approve constitutional court justices, slashing spending, and cutting defense budgets.—
Jan Camenzind Broomby,
NPR,
26 July 2025
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During his first term, Trump repeatedly lambasted the Fed chair for failing to slash rates quickly and aggressively enough, but his offensive has been far more strident in his current tenure.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shear. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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