1
a
: unqualified, utter
sheer folly
sheer ignorance
c
: viewed or acting in dissociation from all else
in terms of sheer numbers
2
: marked by great and continuous steepness
3
: of very thin or transparent texture : diaphanous
sheerly
adverb
sheerness
noun
: a sheer fabric
also
: an article of such a fabric
1
: straight up or down without a break : perpendicularly
2
: in a complete manner : altogether
1
: a turn, deviation, or change in a course (as of a ship)
2
: the position of a ship riding to a single anchor and heading toward it
: the fore-and-aft curvature from bow to stern of a ship's deck as shown in side elevation
Synonyms
Examples of sheer in a Sentence
Adjective
a sheer drop to the sea
we had to get window shades because passersby could see right through our sheer curtains
Adverb
mountains rising sheer from the plains
Verb
the cruise ship sheered to the northwest, putting it safely out of the path of the hurricane
the car sheered to avoid hitting the dog
Recent Examples on the Web
Denise Chow, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
In terms of golden trophies, sources said the strongest performance in the film is from Emmanuel, thanks to her sheer commitment.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
Thanks to its sheer versatility, a pair of wide-leg pants is a staple for any warm weather wardrobe.
—Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
This powder formula features baked minerals that provide a sheer touch of layerable color.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 9 Apr. 2024
This wedding season a dress like that will evoke sheer elegance.
—Essence, 9 Apr. 2024
This season’s offerings: A sheer blouse in a geometric print for around $40, men’s solid color pique polo shirts in earthy tones (sky blue, mossy green) for around $30, and kids graphic T-shirts for around $15.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2024
This, Long said, was evident by the sheer number of people who came out to her vigil at the intersection where she was killed.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 8 Apr. 2024
But there are also a few old favorites from the early days of the bar, kept alive by sheer tastiness and grandfathered into the book by popularity and tradition.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2024
Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2024
Adjust the thickness of the rum glaze from sheer to thick, depending on your preference.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2023
Sweat wicking and never sheer, these are made with sustainable materials, too.
—Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2023
Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024
Forget the mythology of arcane discovery and honor the nobility of those who turn the ordinary to sheer magic by never compromising and never resting one iota short of perfection.
—Stephen Jay Gould, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
In pemphigus, that skin often sheers off in thin sheets.
—Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 7 Oct. 2023
The Bankhead Tunnel has been the site of some dramatic images such as big rigs sheered in half, or moving trucks jammed into the tunnel’s concrete entrance.
—John Sharp | Jsharp@al.com, al, 16 Aug. 2023
With the climate crisis impacting the temperatures and acidity of the oceans, these agile ocean creatures are sheering off their normal paths and traveling to unknown, often taxing, territories.
—Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 27 July 2023
The movie’s flamboyant personalities and tongue-in-cheek action push the envelope of high camp without ever succumbing to sheer silliness.
—Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 July 2023
Avoid sheering the tops, instead cutting back individual branches.
—oregonlive, 16 Apr. 2023
That leaves sheer conspicuous consumption as the main thrust of this car, and that's just too anachronistic a concept, even for a luxury cruiser, in 1986.
—Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, 24 Apr. 2023
Amy Verner, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2024
The star wore a dreamy sheer and metallic Elie Saab Couture gown with cutout details and beading all over.
—Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
The controversial new unis have a lighter feel that also have a look that is more, um, sheer.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2024
If Monét was a Grammy statuette, Miley Cyrus was a golden warrior in a sheer, chain mesh look, her hair giving a ’70s bouffant vibe.
—Leanne Italie, Twin Cities, 4 Feb. 2024
Ethan Miller, Getty Images For ABC At the previous year's Grammys on Feb. 11, 2011, Rihanna rocked a sheer, off-the-shoulder Jean Paul Gaultier gown.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2024
Actress Ariana DeBose, 32, also drew attention in her black blazer with a sheer, lace skirt overlay.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 25 Jan. 2024
Other popular finishes include matte, metallic, milky, opaque, pearl, and sheer.
UV Lamp
Unlike salon gel polish, not all at-home gel polish needs a UV lamp to dry.
—Addie Morton, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2024
The vibrant color popped against Stone’s custom sheer yellow embellished gown, which was also created by the label.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 13 Dec. 2023
Adjective
Cicadas are harmless to humans, though some people find the sheer number of insects and their loud mating songs a nuisance.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
In terms of golden trophies, sources said the strongest performance in the film is from Emmanuel, thanks to her sheer commitment.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
Thanks to its sheer versatility, a pair of wide-leg pants is a staple for any warm weather wardrobe.
—Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
This powder formula features baked minerals that provide a sheer touch of layerable color.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 9 Apr. 2024
This wedding season a dress like that will evoke sheer elegance.
—Essence, 9 Apr. 2024
This season’s offerings: A sheer blouse in a geometric print for around $40, men’s solid color pique polo shirts in earthy tones (sky blue, mossy green) for around $30, and kids graphic T-shirts for around $15.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2024
This, Long said, was evident by the sheer number of people who came out to her vigil at the intersection where she was killed.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 8 Apr. 2024
But there are also a few old favorites from the early days of the bar, kept alive by sheer tastiness and grandfathered into the book by popularity and tradition.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2024
Adverb
Singer and model Ebony Riley went sheer in an LBD with a plunging V-neck and cutouts on the arms.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2024
Adjust the thickness of the rum glaze from sheer to thick, depending on your preference.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2023
Sweat wicking and never sheer, these are made with sustainable materials, too.
—Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2023
Verb
Alpacas can produce about 5-10 pounds of strong, soft, and warm lightweight fleece per year when sheered, according to the Alpaca Owners Association.
—Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024
Forget the mythology of arcane discovery and honor the nobility of those who turn the ordinary to sheer magic by never compromising and never resting one iota short of perfection.
—Stephen Jay Gould, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
In pemphigus, that skin often sheers off in thin sheets.
—Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 7 Oct. 2023
The Bankhead Tunnel has been the site of some dramatic images such as big rigs sheered in half, or moving trucks jammed into the tunnel’s concrete entrance.
—John Sharp | Jsharp@al.com, al, 16 Aug. 2023
With the climate crisis impacting the temperatures and acidity of the oceans, these agile ocean creatures are sheering off their normal paths and traveling to unknown, often taxing, territories.
—Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 27 July 2023
The movie’s flamboyant personalities and tongue-in-cheek action push the envelope of high camp without ever succumbing to sheer silliness.
—Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 July 2023
Avoid sheering the tops, instead cutting back individual branches.
—oregonlive, 16 Apr. 2023
That leaves sheer conspicuous consumption as the main thrust of this car, and that's just too anachronistic a concept, even for a luxury cruiser, in 1986.
—Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, 24 Apr. 2023
Noun
Where one theme highlights the fluidity of sheer, another illustrates how it can be worked for structure.
—Amy Verner, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2024
The star wore a dreamy sheer and metallic Elie Saab Couture gown with cutout details and beading all over.
—Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
The controversial new unis have a lighter feel that also have a look that is more, um, sheer.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2024
If Monét was a Grammy statuette, Miley Cyrus was a golden warrior in a sheer, chain mesh look, her hair giving a ’70s bouffant vibe.
—Leanne Italie, Twin Cities, 4 Feb. 2024
Ethan Miller, Getty Images For ABC At the previous year's Grammys on Feb. 11, 2011, Rihanna rocked a sheer, off-the-shoulder Jean Paul Gaultier gown.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2024
Actress Ariana DeBose, 32, also drew attention in her black blazer with a sheer, lace skirt overlay.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 25 Jan. 2024
Other popular finishes include matte, metallic, milky, opaque, pearl, and sheer.
UV Lamp
Unlike salon gel polish, not all at-home gel polish needs a UV lamp to dry.
—Addie Morton, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2024
The vibrant color popped against Stone’s custom sheer yellow embellished gown, which was also created by the label.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 13 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sheer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sheer
Cite this Entry
“Sheer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheer. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sheer
1 of 4 adjective1
: very thin or transparent
sheer stockings
2
a
: being such to the fullest degree : utter
sheer nonsense
b
: taken or acting apart from everything else
by sheer force
3
: very steep : being almost straight up and down
a sheer drop to the sea
sheerly
adverb
sheerness
noun
sheer
2 of 4 adverb1
: in a complete manner : altogether
2
: straight up or down with no break : perpendicularly
sheer
3 of 4 verb
: to swerve from a course
sheer
4 of 4 noun
: a turn or change in the course of a ship
Etymology
Adjective
from earlier sheer "shining," from Middle English sheer "freed from guilt," probably from an early Norse word skærr "pure"
Verb
perhaps an altered form of shear "to cut, cut off"
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