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
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
Footage from Israel's emergency service showed a large crater next to what appeared to be apartment buildings with outer walls sheared away.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
Footage from Israel's emergency service showed a large crater next to what appeared to be apartment buildings with outer walls sheared away.
—CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Abelias lose their natural, graceful appearance when pruned or sheared heavily.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
As the continents sheared and twisted unevenly, local forces squeezed together thin ribbons of crust and popped them up like geological meerkats, isolating and slicing them off.
—Evan Howell, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2026
It can be lightly sheared to maintain a tidy appearance.
—Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
The bedding is triple sheared, and as a result, pilling is very minor.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 21 Jan. 2026
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
Footage from Israel's emergency service showed a large crater next to what appeared to be apartment buildings with outer walls sheared away.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
Footage from Israel's emergency service showed a large crater next to what appeared to be apartment buildings with outer walls sheared away.
—CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Abelias lose their natural, graceful appearance when pruned or sheared heavily.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
As the continents sheared and twisted unevenly, local forces squeezed together thin ribbons of crust and popped them up like geological meerkats, isolating and slicing them off.
—Evan Howell, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2026
It can be lightly sheared to maintain a tidy appearance.
—Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
The bedding is triple sheared, and as a result, pilling is very minor.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheared
Verb
-
Colbert pulled out another series still of the actor who appeared naked and obscured by an open newspaper while his wife, Lois, played by Jane Kaczmarek, shaved his back.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Resurfacing and Sculpting treatment shaved years off of my skin’s appearance (and all of its New York City congestion) in a matter of 60 minutes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tyagi followed with the wicket of Brevis when the South African batter sliced a tame catch to short third and Kolkata added 50 of the final five overs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Kahan is from the Upper Valley, a quaint and seasonally verdant region encompassing parts of eastern Vermont and western New Hampshire, and sliced through by the Connecticut River—a scenic haven for canoers and for anglers chasing trout.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The newscast cut the bodycam footage after his entry to protect her identity, but Vogel proudly said there was no cause for concern.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
-
In April 2009, a unanimous council — including first-year member Todd Gloria — embraced Sanders’ plan to impose a 6% cut in pay and benefits for city workers, cutting the shortfall in half.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Luis Campusano ripped an 0-2 slider for a double to left-center after missing on two sliders.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The junior outfielder/catcher went 3-for-4, ripped a two-run homer and drove in four runs to lead the host Griffins to a 10-4 win over Lemont in Frankfort.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The video that was clipped online cuts out Khanna’s response, where the congressman rebuffs the woman’s comments.—
Sydney Topf,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Apr. 2026
-
One video taken from inside the school bus shows students screaming and crying as the train passes behind the vehicle after being clipped.—
Michelle Spitzer,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Tisch said the suspect slashed one person on a platform at the Grand Central station before going upstairs and slashing the other victims on another platform.—
Julie Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Recent Iran attacks on a crucial Saudi pipeline have also slashed the kingdom's oil output, Saudi Arabia's state news agency said Thursday.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Heat trimmed the deficit to 123-120 to play on a driving basket by Mitchell, only to see Ball score on the other end to make it 125-120 with 26 seconds to play.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The strips are thick-cut and expertly trimmed.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Cook County medical examiner’s office found that the fatal shot pierced Rivera’s skin near her left armpit and traveled through both her lungs, wedging itself in her ribs, autopsy records show.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The Teen Mom star shared a joint post on Instagram with her daughter Sophia after the teenager got ear gauges and her belly button pierced.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sheared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheared. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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