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
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
The communications pole that was sheared in the April 2025 crash that left 19-year-old Preston Obeidin dead near Temecula.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 16 Apr. 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
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
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
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
The communications pole that was sheared in the April 2025 crash that left 19-year-old Preston Obeidin dead near Temecula.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 16 Apr. 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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheared
Verb
-
The new map has shaved off some of that surplus support to help bolster Democratic odds in neighboring, more competitive swing districts nearer to the Central Valley.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
-
Joe Wilkinson, a captain for the Los Angeles City Fire Department, was one of the many who volunteered to have his head shaved.—
Marianne Love,
Daily News,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Don’t be surprised if that gets sliced and diced too.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
31 May 2026
-
But just seven pitches into his start, Freddie Freeman sliced an opposite-field shot down the left-field line.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Verb
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The shortstop also rocketed a 441-foot, two-run home run off Giants right-hander Keaton Winn in the eighth to cut San Francisco’s lead to 4-3.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
-
Based on 2026 opening day figures, eight teams would have to cut payroll to get under the cap.—
Ronald Blum,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The fire ripped through Hawthorne Village on May 11, forcing families to stay in hotels, motels and with other relatives.—
Tammy Mutasa,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
On the first pitch of his assignment, Lewis ripped a 91 mph cutter from Omaha’s Mitch Spence for a home run.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
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The outstanding Adam Wharton clipped a glorious pass into the penalty area, but an unmarked Tyrick Mitchell mistimed his header and could only direct the ball wide from close range.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
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The eye-catching details were clipped on both sides of her space buns, while a third of her hair was pulled into a low ponytail.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Carolina was in a state of disarray in the third, and after going on a power play, Sebastian Aho slashed Marner, who was headed to the net on a short-handed breakaway.—
Matt Reigle,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
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Sumner barely escaped death; his head and shoulders were slashed to the bone.—
Rob Wolfe,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2026
Verb
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Ferragamo interior design-darling Michele Bonan has gone for an fresh yet elegant mod-nautical look for the rooms; blue and white striped carpeting, cream headboards, curtains, and bedspreads trimmed in snappy navy, jazzy blue, and white checked chair coverings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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While Pembroke trimmed it to a one-goal game at 5-4 off a shot by Murphy to open the final frame, that was as close as the Titans got.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Four of those shots struck Bils from behind, including one that entered his back, pierced his lung and heart, bounced off his breast bone and lodged back in his heart, according to prosecutors.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
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According to the notice, if the toy has been ruptured or pierced, or if sand has escaped the toy, Orb Factory has directed consumers to put on a mask and gloves and use damp cloths to pick up any sand that has leaked out.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sheared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheared. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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