sheer

1 of 6

adjective

ˈshir 

1

a

: unqualified, utter

sheer folly

sheer ignorance

b

: being free from an adulterant : pure, unmixed

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

4

obsolete : bright, shining

sheerly adverb

sheerness noun

sheer

2 of 6

noun (1)

: a sheer fabric

also : an article of such a fabric

sheer

3 of 6

adverb

1

: straight up or down without a break : perpendicularly

2

: in a complete manner : altogether

sheer

4 of 6

verb

sheered; sheering; sheers

intransitive verb

: to deviate from a course : swerve

transitive verb

: to cause to sheer

sheer

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noun (2)

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

sheer

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noun (3)

: the fore-and-aft curvature from bow to stern of a ship's deck as shown in side elevation

Synonyms

Adjective

• transparent
• translucent
• diaphanous

Verb

• deviate
• turn
• swing

Choose the Right Synonym for sheer

steep, abrupt, precipitous, sheer mean having an incline approaching the perpendicular.

steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult.

a steep hill

a steep dive

abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level.

a beach with an abrupt drop-off

precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical.

the river winds through a precipitous gorge

sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse.

sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers

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

Adjective

Lopez went boho-chic in a flowing, semi-sheer white Chloé top with ruffled sleeves. —Starr Bowenbank, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025

More Sargent/Getty Images The sheer insanity of how fast the ball got out of the ballpark captivated a worldwide audience. —Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025

Noun

Low wind sheer could also help Erin strengthen There will also be a lack of wind shear that acts to tear developing hurricanes apart. —Doyle Rice, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025

Go for unlined cotton, muslin, or sheers in the simplest style possible. —Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 July 2025

Adverb

The classic, barely-there formula also comes in Pink Honey, a soft, sheer pink, and the peachy brown Nude Honey. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2025

The actress also wore sheer, glittery pumps and matched her eyeshadow to her dress. —Catherine Santino, People.com, 15 July 2025

Verb

This popular formula comes in 50 shades, provides full coverage (which can be easily sheered out or built up) that doesn't fade throughout the day, and doesn't budge on oily skin. —Deanna Pai, Allure, 4 July 2025

The direct hit from an Iranian missile sheered the front off of a ten-story residential building, killing six people and burying several more under mounds of rubble. —Nbc News, NBC news, 15 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English schere freed from guilt, probably alteration of skere, from Old Norse skærr pure; akin to Old English scīnan to shine

Verb

perhaps alteration of shear entry 1

Noun (3)

perhaps alteration of shear entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1568, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Noun (1)

circa 1920, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1539, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1691, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sheer

• sheer gall

Rhymes for sheer

• beer
• bier
• cheer
• clear
• dear
• deer
• drear
• ear
• fear
• fier
• gear
• hear

Kids Definition

sheer

1 of 4 adjective

ˈshi(ə)r 

1

: 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 adverb

1

: 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"