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
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of shearing
This slow-growing shrub tolerates shearing well; it can be sculpted into formal shapes.
—
Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Dec. 2025
But shearing a bush or tree can ruin the look or balance of a tree.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025
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
Moreover, plastic pulverization produces fine solids; keeping the enzyme in contact with all surfaces without shearing it to inactivity is an active research topic.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Dec. 2025
But shearing a bush or tree can ruin the look or balance of a tree.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025
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
Moreover, plastic pulverization produces fine solids; keeping the enzyme in contact with all surfaces without shearing it to inactivity is an active research topic.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shearing
Verb
-
There wasn’t even a full question asked about the secret project using computer technology aimed at shaving fractions of a second off speedskating times to help the Americans bring home gold medals from the Milan Cortina Olympics.—
Howard Fendrich,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
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Some of the same men involved in the NBA case were also indicted earlier this month in what federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania say was a college basketball point-shaving ring.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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Still a beast to wrangle but one that’s laser-focused on slicing through corners like its Cadillac Racing siblings.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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If the opportunity to sell Romero arises in the summer, Spurs should seriously consider cutting their losses and reinvesting the money in a more reliable defender.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Local reports said Ukrainian missiles hit a power plant and an electrical substation, cutting power to parts of the city.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
Verb
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The administration has framed trimming the agency’s headcount as a move towards modernity and higher efficiency.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
6 Feb. 2026
-
In the 2025 session, lawmakers made billions of dollars in cuts, trimming the state budget from $72 billion to roughly $67 billion.—
Mary Murphy,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mix-Ins for Texture These tasty mix-ins might make the frosting too thick and chunky to spread without tearing or ripping the cake, so beat the frosting with a mixer until light and fluffy, and then fold in the additions with a spatula.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2026
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In chaotic markets — when silver is ripping higher or dropping fast — dealers may pause buying, lower offers or limit volumes.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As my fellow wholesale shoppers know, the real culprit is that side-clipping cup.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
1 Feb. 2026
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Doing a quick scan of weekly sales, clipping coupons ahead of time and knowing what's in season can also shape smarter choices.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some proponents argue that if those interest rates were capped, banks could simply absorb those losses by accepting lower profits or slashing their marketing budgets.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
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The company has largely outmuscled global behemoth Starbucks in China by slashing prices and offering a menu featuring a huge variety of options to cater to local tastes.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shearing. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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