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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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 shearing 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 The video shows the Amazon drone shearing the wire line. — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 26 Nov. 2025 The film reunited him with Morrison, who played the head of a sheep-shearing family business in northeastern New Zealand in the 1950s. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shearing
  1. shaving
  2. slicing
  3. cutting
  4. slitting
  5. trimming
  6. ripping
  7. clipping
  8. slashing
Verb
  • As for how Jason’s family would react to him ditching his signature beard, his wife, Kylie Kelce, recently responded to a listener who asked how their four daughters might react to him shaving off his beard on her Not Gonna Lie podcast.
    — Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The 23-year-old and his Serbia team-mates won the Davis Cup for the first time in December 2010, and fulfilled a promise by shaving their heads in celebration.
    — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of shaving
Verb
  • As up-tempo offenses began slicing through defenses on their way to championships, Kiffin began adapting, first as Nick Saban’s Alabama offensive coordinator and later as a head coach.
    — Matt Baker, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Using bagged coleslaw mix will cut down on slicing time—an invaluable gift on my busiest mornings.
    — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of slicing
Verb
  • Trading firms began using low-latency (shorter delay) technology and co-locating servers inside exchange data centers, cutting trade execution times to milliseconds and making speed itself a competitive advantage.
    — Brian Lund, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Jet fuel costs have skyrocketed, too, leading airlines to hike airfare and baggage fees while cutting less profitable flights.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of cutting
Verb
  • The prosecutor said Tran tried to take his own life by slitting a wrist, cutting his neck and poking a blade into his stomach.
    — Sean Emery, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
  • When Rochelle Luna, 18, arrived at the house hours later, Djerf bound, gagged and raped her before stabbing her and slitting her throat, court records said.
    — Elena Santa Cruz, AZCentral.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Definition of slitting
Verb
  • Landlords Even before legislation banning institutional investors from purchasing more single-family homes became law, the eight largest Wall Street landlords were trimming their portfolios.
    — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The changes include cutting small teams consisting of one to two reports by nearly half and trimming employees seven steps away from the CEO by 20%.
    — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of trimming
Verb
  • On Sunday, a severe thunderstorm swept through the Kansas City area, leaving thousands of residents without power, ripping the roof off of one building, and canceling a portion of the annual SantaCaliGon Days festival in Independence.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Mensah looked as good as the numbers suggested, too, ripping NFL-level throws and distributing the ball to his myriad playmakers, namely wide receiver Malachi Toney.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of ripping
Verb
  • Stembel suggests tightly folding or clipping the seed packet closed, and writing the year on it as a quick hack.
    — Bianca Lambert, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Rebroadcasting, clipping or other uses are not permitted without licensing.
    — Brian Smith, Des Moines Register, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of clipping
Verb
  • The new approach, the research team explains, could replace the current slow, labor-intensive process, ultimately slashing the cost of production.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Lululemon is down more than 20% after reporting a weak quarter and slashing its full-year outlook.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of slashing

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Cite this Entry

“Shearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shearing. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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