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
In the southern Sierra, the dense rocks had the strongest inherent stripes and were shown to have already sheared away from the crust, whereas in the central region this process appears to be ongoing.
—
Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Nearly all the materials used to build the lodge were sourced locally: pine harvested sustainably from the surrounding forests, wool sheared from the sheep that graze in the pastures outside, stone from nearby quarries.
—Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2025
In Lincoln’s time, people in the town would shear their sheep, wash the fleece and card the wool using the mill.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
The concrete had sheared away and the pipe was rusted through.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shear
Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Nearly all the materials used to build the lodge were sourced locally: pine harvested sustainably from the surrounding forests, wool sheared from the sheep that graze in the pastures outside, stone from nearby quarries.
—Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2025
In Lincoln’s time, people in the town would shear their sheep, wash the fleece and card the wool using the mill.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
The concrete had sheared away and the pipe was rusted through.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shear
Verb
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Courtney's husband surprises their daughter after shaving his beard off.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
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On those three days, just over a millisecond is expected to be shaved off the standard 24-hour day.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 July 2025
Verb
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Satomi followed her 11-year-old friend to a nearby study room, where — after drawing the curtains — the girl slit Satomi’s throat with a box cutter and kicked her in the head and sides, The Washington Post reported.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
15 June 2025
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Then, the family members would drag their victim to a hidden cellar on the property and slit the victim’s throat, leaving them there to die.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
1 June 2025
Verb
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Both headphones are astonishingly quiet, virtually eliminating lower drone sounds, cutting higher frequency noises like key clicks, and even erasing piercing sounds like dogs barking with a bit of music.—
Ryan Waniata,
Wired News,
9 July 2025
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To pay for these initiatives, the law cuts Medicaid and food stamps — programs relied upon by poor households with children — by more than $1 trillion.—
MORIAH BALINGIT,
Chicago Tribune,
9 July 2025
Verb
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Here’s how to segment a lemon: Step 1: Peel the lemon: Using a sharp chef’s knife or paring knife, slice the top and bottom from the lemon to reveal the fruit.—
Stephanie Ganz,
Southern Living,
7 July 2025
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The Police Department’s rescue boat sliced across the choppy water toward the Johnstons’ MasterCraft.—
Ethan Wolin
Updated July 4,
Sacbee.com,
4 July 2025
Verb
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Some might have trimmed guest lists — not for space, but to cut the grocery bill.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2025
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Jon Hart serape tour tote Whataburger's Jon Hart tour tote is stadium compliant in clear plastic, trimmed in all-natural leather and sporting serape webbing handles.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Trump tear-gasses children, rips them from their parents, and deports farmworkers.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
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Trees that are 100 years old just ripped out of the ground.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
Verb
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An eastbound tractor-trailer then clipped the blade, Allman said.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
2 July 2025
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Well the bracket that is attached to the doorframe had the screws clipped short and then pushed back into the frame.—
Darlin Tillery,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Club World Cup gets mammoth final in PSG, Chelsea: The FIFA Club World Cup’s debut as a major 32-team event across the U.S. had its negatives -- notably slashed ticket prices to combat lousy crowds for some matches.—
Greg Cote
July 13,
Miami Herald,
13 July 2025
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As empty rows piled up, FIFA slashed prices dramatically — one Chelsea-Fluminense semifinal ticket fell to $13, less than a stadium beer.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shear. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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