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
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Recent Examples of shearing
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
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 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
Plus, shearing the plants will encourage them to rebloom.
—
Michelle Darrisaw,
Southern Living,
1 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
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
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 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
Plus, shearing the plants will encourage them to rebloom.
—
Michelle Darrisaw,
Southern Living,
1 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
Verb
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Right now, Amazon has it on sale for 13% off, shaving $20 off.
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Evert allowed cameras to accompany her to treatments and doctor appointments and document her son shaving off her hair after chemotherapy.
Verb
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Let lasagna stand for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
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The three cutter-drones finished slicing the bedroom’s window out of the wall.
Verb
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Jangoo and Chase batted cautiously in the first hour before cutting loose just before lunch.
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The ribbon-cutting event was a somewhat soggy affair (got to love that unpredictable Florida weather) but a happy one for Seth and the 20+ IONNA employees that made the road trip down from their corporate office in Raleigh, NC.
Verb
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The prosecutor said Tran tried to take his own life by slitting a wrist, cutting his neck and poking a blade into his stomach.
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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.
Verb
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This factor was vastly dwarfed by organizational restructuring, budget cuts, and economic conditions, which are all far more standard explanations historically used by corporations to justify trimming jobs.
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Consider trimming a task list, then schedule a quiet break between meetings to recharge.
Verb
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The game was mostly notable for its physicality as referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio allowed both teams to batter each other, with blood flowing and shirts ripping.
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On Thursday morning, one of the two landlord representatives, Christina Smyth, resigned, ripping the rent freeze as a predetermined conclusion the board had worked to justify.
Verb
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Ninety-five-year-old Warren Buffett is famous for clipping coupons and living in a modest Nebraska house, despite having $146 billion to his name.
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Plant one clipping per vessel in a nutrient-rich soil mixture.
Verb
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Top brands are slashing prices on laptops and tablets, with discounts on favorites like Apple AirTags.
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While the marketplace’s official sale starts on June 23, some brands are already slashing prices, including Avidlove.
Cite this Entry
“Shearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shearing. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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