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

That shaves a year off the typical 120-hour bachelor’s degree.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
For example, using behind-the-meter battery storage or local generation during peak windows actively shaves expensive demand charges without sacrificing performance.

— Ray Fernandez, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of shaves

Verb

Greece's prime minister rejected a maritime agreement between Libya and Turkey, which slices ownership of part of the eastern Mediterranean Sea between the two countries.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
Wild Lab Bakery sells decadent peanut butter cup cookies, as well, and Missy’s Pies slices up a droolworthy combo that features a layer of peanut butter on top of a chocolate brownie.

— Joey Skladany, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of slices

Verb

Amendment 3 cuts only those taxes, imposing a $150,000 homestead tax exemption in 2027 rising to $250,000 the following year.

— Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
Planned cuts to the public university system, which represents a near-universal point of pride in the crisis-prone country, sent students into the streets.

— Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of cuts

Verb

Which is why golf buddies Tyler Kenney and Zach Smith founded Laced Golf, a digital device that clips onto your shoelaces and gives you real-time feedback on your stance using lights and haptic vibration.

— Eliza Thompson, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of clips

Verb

At room temperature, this microscopic waiting room slashes charge loss by a 75% compared to conventional materials.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
Using a sharp knife, make crosswise slashes every 2 in [5 cm] along the body, cutting down to the bone.

— Emma Specter, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of slashes

Verb

MetLife also covers grief counseling and cremation benefits, trims your deductible for each claim-free year and, in some states, insures exotic pets such as birds, reptiles and rabbits.

— Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
In polls, Chicagoans have repeatedly said higher taxes should come only after the city trims its own sails.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of trims

Verb

The film has few traditional dance numbers, but in sequences where wider details from the poem are squeezed into the running time, the English version snips them here and there, removing only minor subplots at first.

— Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2026
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

Definition of snips

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.

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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 10 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of shears

verb

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