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
Footage from Israel's emergency service showed a large crater next to what appeared to be apartment buildings with outer walls sheared away.
—
CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
To get a second show of flowers after the peak of summer, shear the plants back for fall blooms.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
The plants bloom in late spring and early summer and can be encouraged to bloom again by shearing the plants back by two-thirds after the first flowers fade.
—Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
As the continents sheared and twisted unevenly, local forces squeezed together thin ribbons of crust and popped them up like geological meerkats, isolating and slicing them off.
—Evan Howell, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shear
CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
To get a second show of flowers after the peak of summer, shear the plants back for fall blooms.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
The plants bloom in late spring and early summer and can be encouraged to bloom again by shearing the plants back by two-thirds after the first flowers fade.
—Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
As the continents sheared and twisted unevenly, local forces squeezed together thin ribbons of crust and popped them up like geological meerkats, isolating and slicing them off.
—Evan Howell, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shear
Verb
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The tax and tip prohibition would shave approximately 10% off the revenue that banks and credit unions receive from retailers via interchange fees — a transfer of wealth likely to number in the hundreds of millions.—
Jerry Nowicki,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Garnish with a squeeze of lemon juice, grated or shaved Parmesan cheese, and Marcona almonds, if desired.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Nicholson repeatedly stabbed her and slit her throat before stuffing her into a large plastic bin with her arms and legs sticking out, Porter said.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 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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Minnesota led by 10 with about four minutes left before Houston used an 8-2 run, with four points from Alperen Sengun, to cut the lead to 132-128 with about a minute to go.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
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It is equipped with fold-out platforms, a large glass-bottom pool, and a lounge with a DJ booth, meaning seafarers can play with water toys by day and cut shapes by night.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kahan is from the Upper Valley, a quaint and seasonally verdant region encompassing parts of eastern Vermont and western New Hampshire, and sliced through by the Connecticut River—a scenic haven for canoers and for anglers chasing trout.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Machete in hand, Gamaliel Camarena sliced the back of a man who managed to escape by ducking into a donut shop and barring the door.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These re-engineerings provide consumers with high-performance chronographs that are trimmed to fit into multiple cases.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Revisions also have trimmed 69,000 jobs from December and January payrolls, a sign that the labor market remains under strain.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Thompson was hit in the left shoulder, and the bullet ripped through his lungs and aorta, fatally wounding him.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Within eight pitches on flat ground, the baseball had completely ripped away the Dermabond, causing the cut to bleed again.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Both the House and Senate want to clip DeSantis’ wings.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
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Thanks to the rise of algorithmic feeds, clipping has morphed into the creator economy’s version of wheatpasting.—
Andrew Zucker,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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One listener reacted by slashing the sheriff’s tire.—
Amelia Soth,
JSTOR Daily,
15 Apr. 2026
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Snap slashed about 20% of its workforce in 2022 following a slowdown in ad revenue growth, and another 10% worldwide in 2024.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shear. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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