1
as in shaved
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 sliced
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 sheared
With the jet tipped on its side and nearly sheared in half, several people managed to climb out it while a firefighter using a small ladder rescued the last remaining passenger who appeared to be unconscious.
—
ABC News, 17 June 2026
Drivers who came upon the burning plane, which was nearly sheared in half and tipped on its side, captured dramatic rescue scenes on video or rushed toward the aircraft on foot to help.
—CBS News, 17 June 2026
It can be sheared into a formal hedge or shaped into a ball.
—Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 June 2026
Anchusa plants look better and self-seed less if sheared back after flowering.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 9 May 2026
Up next was pineapple, its spikes thoughtfully sheared smooth and cut into spears.
—Literary Hub, 8 May 2026
The tiny leaves are easily sheared and sculpted into any shape.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 5 May 2026
When money is received, the group works with wildlife managers if a location needs to be sheared, burned or bulldozed.
—Andrew Weeks, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2026
The strike on Saturday sheared the façade off several adjacent apartment blocks and shattered glass for blocks around.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 17 June 2026
Drivers who came upon the burning plane, which was nearly sheared in half and tipped on its side, captured dramatic rescue scenes on video or rushed toward the aircraft on foot to help.
—CBS News, 17 June 2026
It can be sheared into a formal hedge or shaped into a ball.
—Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 June 2026
Anchusa plants look better and self-seed less if sheared back after flowering.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 9 May 2026
Up next was pineapple, its spikes thoughtfully sheared smooth and cut into spears.
—Literary Hub, 8 May 2026
The tiny leaves are easily sheared and sculpted into any shape.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 5 May 2026
When money is received, the group works with wildlife managers if a location needs to be sheared, burned or bulldozed.
—Andrew Weeks, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2026
The strike on Saturday sheared the façade off several adjacent apartment blocks and shattered glass for blocks around.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheared
Verb
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So why have even more months been shaved off?—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
-
And most of my family didn’t know that my father had not shaved for a week when his father died.—
Steve S. Medeiros,
The Conversation,
15 June 2026
Verb
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As lasers sliced through smoke billowing from the stage, frontman Tyrone Lindqvist's silky falsetto floated over a sea of festivalgoers stretching far, far, far beyond the soundboard.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
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De Los Santos’ changeup sliced toward the bottom left of the zone, and Jensen met it with a three-run double to right to put Kansas City ahead 7-5.—
Latif Love
June 14,
Kansas City Star,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The current unrest first erupted in May after Paz cut long-standing fuel subsidies to shrink the deficit.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
-
Some analysts expect Apple could benefit as manufacturers of Android devices cut specs or raise prices.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Police alleged that Love ripped a credit card reader from its mount and threw it at the employee, striking her in the head and breaking her glasses.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
-
Perhaps the police ripped it from me that time on Merrion Square.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Eight minutes later the game was level when Hwang In-beom clipped the ball deftly over the onrushing Matej Kovar and Oh Hyeon-Gyu completed the comeback on 86 minutes.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
14 June 2026
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Scotland came close to a goal in the 17th minute when captain Scott McTominay got loose and fired a shot that clipped the top of the post.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Verb
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But bad news continued as a leading ratings agency slashed its outlook for BMW to negative from stable, as analysts wondered if the German manufacturing base might be under threat.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
-
Governor Kathy Hochul separately slashed the Manhattan shuttle-bus fare from $80 to $20, meaning two of the most powerful governors in the country spent the spring competing to subsidize FIFA, a private organization.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Bell notes that vegetation touching the house provides pests with a direct bridge inside, so keep shrubs trimmed back.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
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The 2027 Brent forecast was trimmed to $75 from $80.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Players like Charlie Sifford (first Black player to earn a PGA Tour card), Lee Elder (first Black player in the Masters) and Calvin Peete (12 wins on the PGA Tour) are on the short list of African-Americans who pierced golf's racial barrier.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
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Once the water boils, add the florets and cook until the largest pieces can be easily pierced with a knife, 8 to 12 minutes.—
Carole Kotkin,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sheared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheared. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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