Synonyms of shear

shear

verb

ˈshir 

1

as in to shave

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

• shave
• cut
• trim
• clip
• mow
• crop
• snip
• bob
• prune
• cut back
• dock
• pare
• lop (off)
• nip
• poll
• pinch
• whittle
• skive
• shorten
• stump
• curtail
• manicure

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extend
• elongate
• lengthen

2

as in to slit

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

• slit
• slice
• rip
• slash
• cut
• pierce
• bruise
• stab
• split
• incise
• gash
• tear
• chop
• cleave
• sever
• crosscut
• scissor
• butcher
• saw
• rend
• carve
• chip
• notch
• dissect
• section
• hacksaw
• chisel
• hack
• lacerate
• rive
• cut off
• mince
• haggle
• mangle
• dice
• anatomize
• amputate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shear

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 fledgling storm was affected by shearing winds that forecasters expected to prevent it from building into the kind of hurricane that can sometimes quickly develop in the Gulf just offshore. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 July 2026