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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of shear
Footage from Israel's emergency service showed a large crater next to what appeared to be apartment buildings with outer walls sheared away.
—
CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
To get a second show of flowers after the peak of summer, shear the plants back for fall blooms.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
The plants bloom in late spring and early summer and can be encouraged to bloom again by shearing the plants back by two-thirds after the first flowers fade.
—Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
As the continents sheared and twisted unevenly, local forces squeezed together thin ribbons of crust and popped them up like geological meerkats, isolating and slicing them off.
—Evan Howell, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shear
CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
To get a second show of flowers after the peak of summer, shear the plants back for fall blooms.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
The plants bloom in late spring and early summer and can be encouraged to bloom again by shearing the plants back by two-thirds after the first flowers fade.
—Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
As the continents sheared and twisted unevenly, local forces squeezed together thin ribbons of crust and popped them up like geological meerkats, isolating and slicing them off.
—Evan Howell, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shear
Verb
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In the first episode back, Cranston stands completely nude as Kaczmarek’s Lois shaves his back and nether regions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
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With the war in Iran sending oil prices soaring, consumers under even more economic pressure may not be lured back by PepsiCo shaving less than a dollar off a snack bag.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Nicholson repeatedly stabbed her and slit her throat before stuffing her into a large plastic bin with her arms and legs sticking out, Porter said.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
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If it’s baked in a loaf pan, go ahead and slit the top of the batter before baking.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Minnesota led by 10 with about four minutes left before Houston used an 8-2 run, with four points from Alperen Sengun, to cut the lead to 132-128 with about a minute to go.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
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It is equipped with fold-out platforms, a large glass-bottom pool, and a lounge with a DJ booth, meaning seafarers can play with water toys by day and cut shapes by night.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kahan is from the Upper Valley, a quaint and seasonally verdant region encompassing parts of eastern Vermont and western New Hampshire, and sliced through by the Connecticut River—a scenic haven for canoers and for anglers chasing trout.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Machete in hand, Gamaliel Camarena sliced the back of a man who managed to escape by ducking into a donut shop and barring the door.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Get a hedge-and-branch trimming bundle at a huge discount.—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
9 Apr. 2026
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Airlines are responding cautiously, trimming schedules and adjusting prices in ways that experts say will ripple unevenly across the market but ultimately affect nearly every type of traveler.—
Rio Yamat,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hall ripped a two-out double to left field scoring Higgins.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
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Schiller's sister ripped the medical tubes from his arms.—
Troy Roberts,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Both the House and Senate want to clip DeSantis’ wings.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
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Thanks to the rise of algorithmic feeds, clipping has morphed into the creator economy’s version of wheatpasting.—
Andrew Zucker,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Replays showed Gaudreau slashed Wallstedt’s glove and inhibited his ability to make the save.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Earlier this year, the board voted for a debt mitigation plan that involved slashing upwards of 70 jobs, closing a historic elementary school and cutting dozens of district programs and contracts.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shear. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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