1
as in cuts
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument
he always shaves most of his hair off when the weather starts getting warmer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in brushes
to pass lightly across or touch gently especially in passing
just shaved the concrete post as the car turned the corner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of shaves
Penny E Schwartz, Oc Register, 1 Mar. 2026
After consultations with superiors, the jail superintendent has sent for a barber, who shaves the man gently, making sure to clear the fuzz from his earlobes.
—Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
In his 1939 version, William Wyler shaves away huge chunks of the story.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Witness as Guy Fieri shaves his iconic goatee and trades his frosty spikes for a sensible combover.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
However, the new measurements, courtesy of NASA's Juno spacecraft that is currently orbiting Jupiter, shaves about five miles (8 km) off the equator and about 15 miles (24 km) off at the poles.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Hockey players cut more, so Emmet shaves deeper.
—Blair Braverman, Outside, 22 Dec. 2025
To achieve this, Hank takes control in the dynamic and shaves Aaron’s entire body.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
In one scene, Johnson’s character goes to the barber shop and shaves his hair.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
One of the highlights is the bread cart rolled out at the beginning of the meal, right after the waiter shaves off a roll of unctuous French butter from a huge golden mound.
—Penny E Schwartz, Oc Register, 1 Mar. 2026
After consultations with superiors, the jail superintendent has sent for a barber, who shaves the man gently, making sure to clear the fuzz from his earlobes.
—Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
In his 1939 version, William Wyler shaves away huge chunks of the story.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Witness as Guy Fieri shaves his iconic goatee and trades his frosty spikes for a sensible combover.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
However, the new measurements, courtesy of NASA's Juno spacecraft that is currently orbiting Jupiter, shaves about five miles (8 km) off the equator and about 15 miles (24 km) off at the poles.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Hockey players cut more, so Emmet shaves deeper.
—Blair Braverman, Outside, 22 Dec. 2025
To achieve this, Hank takes control in the dynamic and shaves Aaron’s entire body.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
In one scene, Johnson’s character goes to the barber shop and shaves his hair.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaves
Verb
-
The footage inside the silicone throat was shot weeks prior; when the camera cuts to Howard, production used scopes of different lengths to indicate how far the tube may have gone down his throat.—
Marah Eakin,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Usually when the economy is unsteady and the job market is weakening, the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates to give things a boost.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When some chime in to say their doctors had been cautiously optimistic about treatments, Sarah brushes that aside.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
At the Veterans of Foreign Wars post, Commander Tommy Nester finds it behind the ceiling panels, brushes it off the uniforms that aren’t behind glass and sweeps it from the baseboards of the main hall.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The jersey also includes a jock tag depicting a dove carrying an olive branch, while the Pride’s familiar purple trims the collar, cuffs and player lettering.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Like other series in a similar position, most notably Dick Wolf’s dramas, Grey’s Anatomy has gone through budget trims the last couple of seasons, including reducing the episodic guarantees of veteran cast members the last two years, with each appearing in 14 of the show’s 18 episodes each season.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At one point, Gomez kisses the toes of her now-husband as if to reiterate that those dirty feet belong to her.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Anything beyond hugs and kisses is too much for her.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The holder clips right to your pack or waders and keeps everything in a neat, easy-to-dispense stack.—
Francesca Krempa,
Outside,
23 Dec. 2025
-
The carry handles each have a magnetic piece that then clips together to form a single bar to grasp.—
Adam Campbell-Schmitt,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Serve the sandwiches with frozen French fries jazzed up with bits of parsley, coarse salt, black pepper, and parmesan shreds.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Mar. 2026
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Depending on the variety of marmalade, the rind can be cut into thick pieces or into tiny shreds.—
Amy Sherman,
Martha Stewart,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Those who are approved will receive a total of 18 free lawn mows from April through October, a set number each month, with no further scheduling or calls needed, according to an email from the city.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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With its 5Ah battery, the Goat mows over 5,000 square feet per charge and gets back to work after just 45 minutes of charging.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap the circular lounge and its central bar, which is distinguished by a massive birch tree with gray feathers instead of leaves suspended from branches.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
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To help keep their moisture levels in check and protect themselves from wind, desert plants often have spiny, waxy, or hairy leaves.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaves. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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