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
Instead of shearing the entire plant, consider removing one-third of the oldest and woodiest stalks at the base.
—
Arkansas Online, 18 July 2025
The speed at which an object orbits a planet depends on its distance from that world, and Saturn’s ring was so wide that the inner edge would orbit much more rapidly than its outer edge, which would shear anything solid apart.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 17 July 2025
Plants that benefit from shearing a couple of times during the growing season are thread-leaf coreopsis, common petunias, catmint, and salvia.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 July 2025
An azalea hedge is where a gardener’s preferred style comes into play: should it be sheared or unsheared?
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shear
Arkansas Online, 18 July 2025
The speed at which an object orbits a planet depends on its distance from that world, and Saturn’s ring was so wide that the inner edge would orbit much more rapidly than its outer edge, which would shear anything solid apart.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 17 July 2025
Plants that benefit from shearing a couple of times during the growing season are thread-leaf coreopsis, common petunias, catmint, and salvia.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 July 2025
An azalea hedge is where a gardener’s preferred style comes into play: should it be sheared or unsheared?
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shear
Verb
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The predictions do not always come to pass, as July 22 had been predicted to be over a millisecond short, but the data revealed that only 0.87 milliseconds were shaved off, according to the Observatory's data.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
5 Aug. 2025
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The 22-year-old likened his hair change to Natalie Portman's major makeover in V for Vendetta, the film that required the actress to shave her head in real time.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The material is lightweight with short sleeves and slits on each side that provide a great cooling effect when walking.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
20 July 2025
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The blouse features a hint of a collar, soon-to-be-trending frog enclosures, and slits on the sleeves that mimic the trousers.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
9 July 2025
Verb
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On Thursday, the White House announced that Trump had just sent letters to the heads of 17 major pharmaceutical companies pushing them to cut the prices that Americans have to pay down to the levels that people in other countries pay.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
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At the 400-meter split, the challengers cut two-tenths of a second off Ledecky’s lead to pull within 0.18.—
Zack Pierce,
New York Times,
2 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Stormy weather could stretch over a large portion of the central and eastern US on Wednesday as humid air pours north out of the Gulf and the cold front starts to slice south.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
29 July 2025
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Pack firmly to ensure the crust doesn’t crumble when sliced (using the bottom of a measuring cup helps pack the crust into the pan).—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
29 July 2025
Verb
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In the case of the plastic eel, trim the tail to a slim taper.—
Anthony A. Ciuffa,
Outdoor Life,
7 Aug. 2025
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To see if your rose bush is dying or just dormant, trim a cane that looks dead and cut away some of the bark.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Once rich and chubby and depressed, Johnson is now, at forty-seven, rich and ripped and determined to live forever.—
Tad Friend,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
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After defeating Bliss in a championship match, Charlotte Flair brutally and methodically ripped the Lilly doll to shreds in the middle of the ring, leaving a distraught Bliss wailing over the remains.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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How to get sparkling rosé nails at home The same rule applies to all nude nails: Lay the foundation first by clipping your nails straight across before rounding the edges with a nail file.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
28 July 2025
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These hammocks fit over your entire back seat and easily clip to the front and passenger seats to create a hammock with extra space for your furry friend.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Federal grants for another pathway into teaching, Americorps’ Teach for America program, were also recently slashed by the Trump administration.—
Rory Linnane,
jsonline.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Even at a later point, a constituent said the president unilaterally slashed medical research at the National Institutes of Health and Congress did nothing.—
Obed Manuel,
NPR,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shear. Accessed 14 Aug. 2025.
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