Synonyms of shear

shear

verb

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

• shave
• cut
• clip
• trim
• crop
• snip
• mow
• bob
• prune
• cut back
• pare
• nip
• dock
• poll
• lop (off)
• pinch
• skive
• stump
• manicure
• whittle
• shorten
• curtail

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extend
• elongate
• lengthen

• extend
• elongate
• lengthen

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

• slit
• slice
• rip
• cut
• slash
• pierce
• bruise
• gash
• stab
• split
• tear
• scissor
• chop
• crosscut
• cleave
• sever
• incise
• hacksaw
• notch
• butcher
• rive
• rend
• chisel
• saw
• lacerate
• carve
• dissect
• mangle
• chip
• hack
• cut off
• section
• mince
• dice
• anatomize
• haggle
• amputate