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sheer

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verb

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as in to deviate
to change one's course or direction the cruise ship sheered to the northwest, putting it safely out of the path of the hurricane

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word sheer different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of sheer are abrupt, precipitous, and steep. While all these words mean "having an incline approaching the perpendicular," sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse.

sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers

When would abrupt be a good substitute for sheer?

Although the words abrupt and sheer have much in common, abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level.

a beach with an abrupt drop-off

When is precipitous a more appropriate choice than sheer?

The meanings of precipitous and sheer largely overlap; however, precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical.

the river winds through a precipitous gorge

When is it sensible to use steep instead of sheer?

While in some cases nearly identical to sheer, steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult.

a steep hill
a steep dive

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 sheer
Adjective
Cyrus released the single alongside a black-and-white video that sways from footage of the singer dripping in crystals to wearing a long, classic dress and toward the end, wearing a somber black coat with sheer fabric covering her face. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2025 Someone should alert the Thai government that their airport security is seriously lacking, judging by the sheer amount of weaponry, including guns, knives, and even a chainsaw, that the assassins have managed to spirit onto the plane. Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 7 May 2025
Verb
Decades of despair to sheer delight for Commanders fans: The Washington Commanders will be playing in the NFC championship game next Sunday, one game away from the Super Bowl. Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2025 John Fabiano was documenting the working dogs of the country and visited a wool farm during sheering season. Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for sheer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheer
Adjective
  • No matter how meticulous evidence is gathered, its value can diminish without transparent, comprehensive reporting.
    Beth Worthy, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • There is a critical opportunity for brands to lead the charge in redefining value—not by focusing on price tags, but by investing in ethical production, sustainable materials and transparent supply chains.
    Lauren Parker, Sourcing Journal, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Cricket is not even just fighting against other sports, but also its own with the slew of formats and franchise leagues creating utter confusion amid a congested calendar.
    Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
  • Trump, for his part, has shown no interest in Palestinian civilian life for its own sake (and has demonstrated utter disdain for domestic pro-Palestinian activists).
    Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Idaho residents’ property taxes have seen steep increases amid the area’s rapid population growth in recent years, especially in the Treasure Valley, the Statesman previously reported.
    Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 15 May 2025
  • Constellation, which Berkshire first invested in during the fourth quarter of 2024, recently came under pressure after President Donald Trump announced steep tariffs on Mexican imports.
    Yun Li, CNBC, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • In space, satellites deviated from their trajectories due to the changes in air density caused by the sudden heating triggered by the energetic processes.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 9 May 2025
  • Industry stakeholders argue that the USCIS’s current two-year requirement deviates from both the law and investor expectations, potentially jeopardizing long-term projects.
    Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • After passengers swim in the ocean, the boat tours the coast, veering close to the jagged cliffs, sea caves, and waterfalls. 10.
    Rachel Ng, AFAR Media, 7 May 2025
  • The Post screams on, and—by the evidence of our last national election, in which almost every demographic in the city veered right, toward Donald Trump, whose profile was created, in part, in Murdoch’s pages—New York keeps hearing it out.
    Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
Adjective
  • Some keep the ad translucent and restrict how much of a screen is devoted to it.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 12 May 2025
  • Among the booths selling keychains, ceramics, and handbags, there was a wall display of handmade contemporary postcards with translucent slide-film photographs of local scenes embedded in the card stock.
    Bonnie Tsui, AFAR Media, 6 May 2025
Adjective
  • Transform any rejection into pure business motivation and wins.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
  • When something appears that stems from a pure love of music, inevitably, the existing structures begin to crumble.
    Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • Omani culture also thrives in atmospheric souqs (markets), ancient forts and quiet agricultural villages tucked away in the country’s mountainous interior, an easy drive from Muscat.
    Natasha Amar, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
  • Nagorno-Karabakh Known as Artsakh to Armenians, Nagorno-Karabakh is a mountainous region in the South Caucuses that has been at the center of a decades-long dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sheer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheer. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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