shear

verb

ˈshir How to pronounce shear (audio)
Definition of shearnext
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

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 shear In that 1964 work, Ono sat still on a stage, a pair of scissors beside her, as audience members took turns shearing her clothing. — Julie L. Belcove, Architectural Digest, 12 June 2026 It can be sheared into a formal hedge or shaped into a ball. — Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 June 2026 Most campanulas get sheared back at some point during the summer to clean up ugly or damaged foliage and encourage another flush of blooms. — 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 See All Example Sentences for shear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shear
  1. shave
  2. slit
  3. cut
  4. slice
  5. trim
  6. rip
  7. clip
  8. slash
Verb
  • The movie could stand to shave off 10 minutes from its midsection on the ocean, which often suffers from too many flat, green-screen backgrounds.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026
  • Just last month the Federal Bureau of Prison’s website readjusted it, shaving a few months off.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026
Definition of shave
Verb
  • They’re designed with a sleek flat front, a mid-rise elastic waistband, a slightly loose leg opening, and small side slits for a comfortable, relaxed fit.
    — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 4 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of slit
Verb
  • The lineup already was revving, as Rushing homered in the second inning while Sasaki was still in the game, and both Kyle Tucker and Muncy drove in runs off starter Randy Vasquez in the third, cutting the deficit to two.
    — Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Potential applications beyond wind energy The researchers believe the manufacturing approach could cut production costs for small wind turbines and help more people use lightweight renewable energy technology.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Definition of cut
Verb
  • Peel kiwis using a knife, peeler, or spoon, and slice into wedges, rounds, cubes, or decorative halves.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026
  • The thighs just need to be sliced into large pieces (1½-2 inches is the sweet spot) before being threaded onto skewers.
    — Kate Williams, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of slice
Verb
  • Miller’s exact dress from Debute London, which features a bustier top, lace trim, and a short hemline, is a great example of the details that turn the trend more contemporary, while still nodding to its nostalgic, charming nature.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 3 July 2026
  • Mow regularly and trim your edges, since ticks lurk in tall grass and brush.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Definition of trim
Verb
  • This is a clear example of how technology enables equipment upgrades without needing to rip and replace the underlying hardware asset.
    — Amit Chaturvedy, Fortune, 8 July 2026
  • It’s followed by Watts, coming in on drums slightly offbeat, and then Richards, who rips the song open with his five-string open G tuning technique.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 2026
Definition of rip
Verb
  • Walk the rows, clip your favorites and take home a custom bouquet.
    — Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026
  • Teams can clip plays and submit them for review, but multiple sources told The Athletic that the system suffers from delays and produces little noticeable improvement from game to game.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of clip
Verb
  • The most recent controversy came in January, when the county paid $135,000 to settle a lawsuit that accused Kramer of improperly slashing a property’s value by millions of dollars — then retaliating against the employee who raised alarms about it.
    — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • Last year, the charity Oxfam noted that G7 countries, which collectively account for around 75% of all official development assistance, were set to slash their aid spending by 28% in 2026 compared to 2024 levels.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 6 July 2026
Definition of slash

Browse Nearby Words

sheaf
shear
sheared
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Cite this Entry

“Shear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shear. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shear

Nglish: Translation of shear for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shear

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