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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shear
Either shear the whole plant by a third or selectively cut withered flowers and leggy stems.
—
Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 14 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
That increases a rising air motion that tends to drop shearing winds over the Atlantic that can disrupt the structure of tropical cyclones.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 25 Mar. 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
See All Example Sentences for shear
Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 14 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
That increases a rising air motion that tends to drop shearing winds over the Atlantic that can disrupt the structure of tropical cyclones.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 25 Mar. 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
See All Example Sentences for shear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shear
Verb
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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
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Today, the organization relies on volunteers sponsored by family and friends to shave their heads in solidarity with children who lose their hair during cancer treatments.—
Marianne Love,
Daily News,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Before police took him into custody, Tran slit his wrists, cut his neck and poked the blade into his stomach, but all of the wounds were superficial.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
1 June 2026
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If it’s baked in a loaf pan, go ahead and slit the top of the batter before baking.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
15 Mar. 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
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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
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The hotel is on the corner of Mission Street, which slices diagonally through the city, and the Embarcadero, which hugs the waterfront from the Bay Bridge west to Fisherman’s Wharf.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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Hardwood Poke Poke, meaning to cut or slice into chunks in Hawaiian, was born centuries ago as a fisherman’s snack.—
Sylvie Bigar,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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New York has trimmed San Antonio’s lead from eight to three, all with Jalen Brunson on the bench with a knee issue.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
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Maintaining your yard by mowing, removing leaf litter, and trimming vegetation reduces tick habitats.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Verb
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In standard laser designs, this structural stress causes the hyper-fast pulses to destabilize and rip themselves apart.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
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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 cyclist swerved to avoid the door but still clipped it and was thrown to the street, sources said.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
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Dull blades, by contrast, tear the grass blades and make a mess of clipping distribution.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 June 2026
Verb
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On Tuesday, Missouri Promise PAC released a video ad that depicted Missouri as a race car competing against other states to slash taxes on a NASCAR-style track.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
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Crosby, a deputy city attorney endorsed by the county Democratic Party, had sent mailers contending Bailey’s promises to reduce city spending would slash funding for parks, libraries and homeless shelters.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shear. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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