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 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheared

Verb

Samsung has successively shaved a few millimeters off every year, taking a leap last year with the Z Fold 7.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
While treating the disease, the 44-year-old shaved her head but has now been on the road to growing it out again.

— Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of shaved

Verb

Another veneer is made of eucalyptus from the paper industry, which is formed into a block then sliced into the veneer during a ten-week process.

— Alistair Charlton, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
But by the time it’s finished, those muscles have been flavored, cooked, cooled and sliced so thin that they can be folded into a sandwich in just a few seconds.

— Anna Dilger, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of sliced

Verb

Since it was designated the first national recreation area in 1964, hordes of visitors have cut Lake Mead’s glassy surface with jet skis and boats, carelessly dropping belongings that may now wash up on shore.

— Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
First, prep your sandwich with any fillings, then place it into the cutter to cut and seal in one step.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of cut

Verb

Nearly two months later, support is still pouring in for victims of the wildfires that ripped through southern Colorado earlier this summer.

— Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
During the past 10 months, construction workers and engineers have ripped out everything below the upper tier and reconfigured the stadium.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of ripped

Verb

Southwestern Minnesota will see a few more clouds, and could get clipped by a few showers in the early hours.

— Joseph Dames, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Amabile’s wife, Serena Pitt, can be overheard asking him as another staple is clipped out and placed into a plastic container.

— Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of clipped

Verb

In 2025 the administration slashed the CRCL staff from roughly 150 employees down to just a handful, effectively halting operations.

— Vanessa Romo, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026
Walmart attributed the disappointing sales growth in part to new federal drug pricing rules that slashed the price of several expensive medications for Medicare enrollees.

— Kayla Steinberg, NBC news, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of slashed

Verb

Keep bushes trimmed and minimize piles of leaves, lumber, rocks, and other debris, particularly around patios, play areas, and other places where your family spends time.

— Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 19 Aug. 2026
That 145-basis-point benefit got trimmed by 60 basis points of unplanned cost inflation, leaving 85 basis points.

— Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of trimmed

Verb

Investigators believe the bullet that pierced the restaurant window was fired from inside a passing vehicle on Vista Village Drive.

— Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
Poy was wounded in a second land mine explosion that pierced his face and body with shrapnel and killed three of his colleagues.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 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 25 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of sheared

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on sheared

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tilde

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'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

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

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

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes