wind shear

noun

: a radical shift in wind speed and direction that occurs over a very short distance

Examples of wind shear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Vertical wind shear, which refers to changes in wind speed and direction with height in the atmosphere, is often a primary factor in below-average hurricane season activity. Daniel Peck, ABC News, 11 June 2026 Forecast confidence is increasing that some storms could become strong to severe on Sunday, especially along and north of I-20, where wind shear will be slightly more favorable for storm organization. Nelly Carreño, CBS News, 11 June 2026 During the El Niño phase, warm water around the Pacific equator spreads far to the east, typically changing patterns of wind shear to favor tropical cyclone activity in the eastern Pacific and decrease it in the Atlantic. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 1 June 2026 El Niño, however, is associated with higher vertical wind shear in the Atlantic, which disrupts this process. Evan Bush, NBC news, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wind shear

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wind shear was in 1895

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wind shear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wind%20shear. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

wind shear

noun
: a radical shift in wind speed and direction that occurs over a very short distance

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