Synonyms of shearing

shearing

verb

present participle of shear

1

as in shaving

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

• shaving
• cutting
• trimming
• clipping
• pruning
• mowing
• cropping
• snipping
• paring
• bobbing
• docking
• cutting back
• nipping
• polling
• lopping (off)
• whittling
• pinching
• shortening
• skiving
• manicuring
• curtailing
• stumping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extending
• lengthening
• elongating

2

as in slicing

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

• slicing
• slitting
• ripping
• cutting
• slashing
• bruising
• piercing
• splitting
• stabbing
• incising
• sawing
• chopping
• gashing
• tearing
• severing
• cleaving
• scissoring
• crosscutting
• carving
• chipping
• sectioning
• butchering
• dissecting
• rending
• lacerating
• mangling
• riving
• notching
• hacking
• hacksawing
• dicing
• mincing
• chiseling
• haggling
• cutting off
• amputating
• anatomizing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shearing

In remote ranching outposts across the treeless plateau of Chubut province, life revolves around tending flocks on steppes and shearing sheep in sheds. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026

As a member of the mint family, horehound has the tendency to spread aggressively, but this can be prevented by shearing the inconspicuous flowers, which is also done to expose the evergreen foliage. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 6 Sep. 2026

Cut individual branches rather than shearing the shrub like a hedge. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2026

The fledgling storm was affected by shearing winds that forecasters expected to prevent it from building into the kind of hurricane that can sometimes quickly develop in the Gulf just offshore. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 July 2026

Harryson says to avoid shearing the entire plant into a tight mound, cutting into the crown, removing emerging spring shoots, and pruning too early. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 16 June 2026

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

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

Sophomore Joe Teter enjoyed the honor of shearing Dunckel’s head. — Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025