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

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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 If conditions are dry, the foliage will begin to yellow and can be sheared to the crown. — Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 22 Sep. 2026 Once inside, they’re restrained, sometimes blindfolded to preserve their sanity, and carefully sheared before being released. — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheared

Verb

And that overall figure has been on a downward trend for the past several years as episode counts get shaved on series and major studios place fewer overall bets on movies or shows annually.

— Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Colbert gifted Kimmel his Captain America shield, did a sketch-within-an-interview with his son impersonating a Kiwi police officer, and shaved for our amusement.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of shaved

Verb

In this version, the andouille is diced rather than sliced into the more traditional coins, so each spoonful gets a pop of texture and flavor.

— Inés Anguiano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026
There are many ways to become obsessed with life’s frame rate, with the varying speed of an action and the way that time can be sliced or spun in the presentation.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of sliced

Verb

The burger will drip all over your fries, which are included and cut like pickle chips.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
Lamont and lawmakers have set aside $550 million from past state budget surpluses to mitigate federal human service programs cuts.

— Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of cut

Verb

At least one restroom was also heavily damaged, with sinks and barriers ripped from the walls.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Farsi, from a step inside the penalty box on the right side, ripped a low shot past goalkeeper Sébastian Breza and inside the back post to open the scoring in the 57th minute.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of ripped

Verb

Budget proposals for the past two years have slashed NASA’s science funding, and some of the nation’s best and brightest minds have now left the space agency because of uncertainty about their role in its future.

— Eric Niiler, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
Those tariffs were slashed in May 2025 after trade negotiators in Switzerland struck a temporary deal, which was extended in mid-August.

— Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of slashed

Verb

Shades of pink introduced a feminine touch in shirtdresses, while the natural shades of a paper-like fabric deployed for crisp tailoring and skirts trimmed with floral appliqués acted as the collection’s chromatic common denominator.

— Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
Canada made a layup that trimmed Atlanta's deficit to 41-36 at halftime and Gray capped a 7-0 spurt to open the third with a 3-pointer that gave the Dream their first lead since the opening minute.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of trimmed

Verb

In 1998, while a student at Gordonstoun, Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall (née Phillips), shocked the nation by getting her tongue pierced at a tattoo parlour in Moray, Scotland.

— Eva Wolchover, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026
The anticipation builds until the silence is pierced by the curling cry of the ancient instrument.

— Ben Corn, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of pierced

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“Sheared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheared. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of sheared

verb

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