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
Relevance
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
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
-
For an easy way to create Parmesan slices instead of grated cheese, simply use a potato peeler to shave thin strips directly from the wedge.—
Linda Gassenheimer,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
-
One French director, Xavier Gens, told Reuters here that AI tools could have cut the visual effects budget of his Netflix hit Under Paris in half and shaved eight months off the schedule.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
The Tempo cut it to three midway through the fourth while Brittany Sykes (27 points, seven assists) sparked Toronto’s rally.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
-
Kreutzer cuts clunkily and repeatedly between the ongoing crises in two households, presumably implying that the men in these women’s lives are all tarred with the same patriarchal brush.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Beau Neidhardt slices a Kale Caesar Cutlet hoagie.—
Susan Spencer,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
-
Start by slicing one fresh jalapeño into thin rounds.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Cut off and discard the leaves, then remove any brown spots and trim the ends.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
14 May 2026
-
The rising cost of fuel and groceries has trimmed their choices to the necessities.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Videos captured a rioter ripping a mask off Hodges as he was pinned against a door during a fight for control of a tunnel entrance.—
Michael Kunzelman,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
-
Numbers like that savagely rip at the time-space continuum in ways piston-engine cars simply cannot.—
Mark Ewing,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
In multiple cases, other road users struck the autonomous vehicle from behind or clipped it while passing.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
-
The Cavs may clip the Pistons in Game 7 on Sunday, even on the road.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Food and drink Pastries are baked daily by the hotel’s sister property, Stockton Market, a shoppy shop slash bakery, and brought over to the Stockton Inn's lobby every morning.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 May 2026
-
During the previous administration, available slots at the capital’s airport were slashed from 61 to 43 per hour, before ticking back up to 44 last year.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shear. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
