SHEARS Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

shears

verb

present tense third-person singular of shear

as in shaves

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

as in slits

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shears

Verb

Its ceramic blades easily tackle coarse hair and its waterproof design makes in-shower shaves a breeze.

— Sara Coughlin, Allure, 5 July 2026
Zillow says that a pale pink bathroom could lose you up to $6,013, while a pale pink kitchen shaves an extra $4,201 off potential buyers' offers.

— Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 June 2026

Definition of shaves

Verb

But because Abundance cuts across the conventional left-right axis, New York politicians left, right, and center can all be on the wrong side of it.

— Ryder Kessler, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
Extortion in Mexico is a multibillion-dollar racket that cuts across economic sectors and is linked to organized crime.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026

Definition of cuts

Verb

It’s followed by Watts, coming in on drums slightly offbeat, and then Richards, who rips the song open with his five-string open G tuning technique.

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 2026
During his tour, a solar flare causes an electromagnetic disturbance that rips through the systems of civilization and into the data center.

— Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026

Definition of rips

Verb

All of my essentials are packed in my Stowaway, which clips into my weekender as a bag organizer, and can clip out to be worn on its own as a crossbody when walking around during the day or as a clutch when going out in the evening.

— Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 16 July 2026
This compact tote folds into a small pouch that clips directly onto your keys and expands into a functional bag when needed.

— Corein Carter, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026

Definition of clips

Verb

In the closing scene, just as the train approaches, Juggut climbs up to the rope and slashes it with his kirpan (the ceremonial sword carried by observant Sikhs).

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
This, in turn, significantly reduces drag and slashes fuel consumption.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026

Definition of slashes

Verb

Spink’s optimism about the growth opportunities in Saudi Arabia comes even as the kingdom trims capital expenditure, cuts some projects, and limits spending on foreign consultants.

— Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 1 July 2026
Coppola's preferred version of the film, Final Cut, removes or trims a handful of sequences, including the exchange between Willard (Martin Sheen) and the Playboy Playmates, and Kurtz (Marlon Brando) reading from TIME magazine.

— Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026

Definition of trims

Verb

Benson snips off a portion of Kaylee’s hair in one shot, followed by a snap of the musician wrapping his arms around his older sister in a comforting hug.

— Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
Grandmother takes a small pair of scissors from her bag and snips a swatch from the green cloth, then slips it into her pocket.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Mar. 2026

Definition of snips

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shearing

shears

sheath

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“Shears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shears. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of shears

verb

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