SHEARED Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

sheared

verb

Definition of sheared

past tense of shear

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sheared The impact sheared the pole and caused the vehicle to catch fire. — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Cotton/polyester fleece are brushed, sheared and sueded for a buttery soft hand feel. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 28 July 2026 The force of the crash sheared the seatbelt Miller was wearing, and he was thrown from the vehicle. — Alex Andrejev, New York Times, 17 July 2026 Second, victims of higher taxes don’t stand still and get sheared like obedient sheep. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheared

Verb

Even in southern locations, more than 40 minutes is expected to be shaved off daytime, according to AccuWeather.

— Doyle Rice, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Her mother also shaved a year off her age, claiming she was born in 1942, to make her early public career seem even more impressive.

— Hillel Italie, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of shaved

Verb

Eli White, starting for the third straight game in place of Rafaela, promptly sliced a single to left, scoring the first two runs.

— Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Shingle ½ small crisp apple (such as Fuji or Gala), very thinly sliced, over cheese, then top with shallots.

— Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of sliced

Verb

North Carolina Democrats in the state’s House of Representatives cut all ties with one of their candidates running for the state legislature after her past social media posts about violence against Republicans came to light.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2026
Krohn put in new sprinklers and fire-safety systems after his last renters moved out a few years ago, then cut a hole between the second and third floors, allowing more light and air to filter through what is now a unified owner’s duplex.

— Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of cut

Verb

In fact, Israel built its future wagering that the Palestinians violently displaced and expelled in the Nakba would eventually move on, assimilate, forget the depravity that ripped them from their land.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
Actor Michael Rapaport ripped Macklemore as a talentless clown following the rapper’s pro-Palestinian set at MetLife Stadium.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of ripped

Verb

In March, Woods was traveling at a high rate of speed on Jupiter Island when his Land Rover clipped a truck and rolled onto its side.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
In March, Woods' Land Rover clipped a truck, rolled onto its side and the legendary golfer was arrested, officials said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of clipped

Verb

Christian then lays out the finale’s mandates, which, just like last season, are dramatically slashed down from what Project Runway used to be.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
The world's largest oil buyer has slashed its imports after the war broke out, tapping into its stockpiles, keeping a lid on global oil prices and safeguarding its economy.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of slashed

Verb

Washington’s offense had started to find a rhythm and had just trimmed the Eagles’ lead to 17-16.

— Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Chicago lost its fourth straight game and had its AL Central lead trimmed to one half game over Cleveland, which beat Minnesota 5-2.

— CBS News, CBS News, 12 Sep. 2026

Definition of trimmed

Verb

And the beep, beep, beep of the garbage trucks preparing the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for sunrise and another day of tennis pierced the moments of silence.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
The bullet pierced the restaurant glass and left a diner with a minor injury.

— Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of pierced

Browse Nearby Words

shear

sheared

shearing

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sheared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheared. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of sheared

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

quorum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes