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
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Recent Examples of shear
In the southern Sierra, the dense rocks had the strongest inherent stripes and were shown to have already sheared away from the crust, whereas in the central region this process appears to be ongoing.
—
Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Nearly all the materials used to build the lodge were sourced locally: pine harvested sustainably from the surrounding forests, wool sheared from the sheep that graze in the pastures outside, stone from nearby quarries.
—Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2025
In Lincoln’s time, people in the town would shear their sheep, wash the fleece and card the wool using the mill.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
The concrete had sheared away and the pipe was rusted through.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shear
Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Nearly all the materials used to build the lodge were sourced locally: pine harvested sustainably from the surrounding forests, wool sheared from the sheep that graze in the pastures outside, stone from nearby quarries.
—Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2025
In Lincoln’s time, people in the town would shear their sheep, wash the fleece and card the wool using the mill.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
The concrete had sheared away and the pipe was rusted through.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shear
Verb
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Courtney's husband surprises their daughter after shaving his beard off.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
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On those three days, just over a millisecond is expected to be shaved off the standard 24-hour day.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 July 2025
Verb
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Satomi followed her 11-year-old friend to a nearby study room, where — after drawing the curtains — the girl slit Satomi’s throat with a box cutter and kicked her in the head and sides, The Washington Post reported.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
15 June 2025
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Then, the family members would drag their victim to a hidden cellar on the property and slit the victim’s throat, leaving them there to die.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
1 June 2025
Verb
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To pay for these initiatives, the law cuts Medicaid and food stamps — programs relied upon by poor households with children — by more than $1 trillion.—
MORIAH BALINGIT,
Chicago Tribune,
9 July 2025
-
During a June 10 hearing, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he was disappointed with the administration’s budget request for the Navy for the 2026 fiscal year, which cut the spending to $21 billion from $37 billion in the prior year.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
9 July 2025
Verb
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Gently press down on each sandwich, then slice in half.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
19 July 2025
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But what happened next was outright pain: The visceral sensation of a scalpel slicing her skin and tearing across her abdomen.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
16 July 2025
Verb
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Here, the nailhead trim and traditional striped fabric go hand in hand for a statement yet classic bedroom.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
14 July 2025
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Maybe find ways to trim the bureaucracy and lower taxes.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 July 2025
Verb
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Trump tear-gasses children, rips them from their parents, and deports farmworkers.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
-
Trees that are 100 years old just ripped out of the ground.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
Verb
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But clipping in a hair topper or something like a fake ponytail can provide immediate gratification.—
Jessica Hartshorn,
Flow Space,
18 July 2025
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Some young families attended with their children as well as young professionals dressed in business casual with IDs clipped to their waist.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
17 July 2025
Verb
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As empty rows piled up, FIFA slashed prices dramatically — one Chelsea-Fluminense semifinal ticket fell to $13, less than a stadium beer.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
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Club World Cup gets mammoth final in PSG, Chelsea: The FIFA Club World Cup’s debut as a major 32-team event across the U.S. had its negatives -- notably slashed ticket prices to combat lousy crowds for some matches.—
Greg Cote
July 13,
Miami Herald,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shear. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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