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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
The shirt is traditionally made of sheer fabrics woven from pineapple fiber or banana plants, which was perfect for a warm October day that reached the high 80s before kickoff. Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025 Unprocessed-food moms on social media tend to gloss over the sheer amount of money and prep work involved in life without convenience foods. Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
Minutes after clearing the dock, the vessel's three 147-foot (44.8-meter) masts were sheered by the underside of the bridge, Reuters reported, knocking several naval cadets off its crossbeams. Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025 Its thin, almost-watery texture delivers an exceptional burst of color, that despite its weight, does not sheer out when blended. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sheer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheer
Adjective
  • The move by the tech giant set a more transparent bonus system in South Korea’s tech industry.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The goal is to create a reliable, transparent capital-return framework comparable to global mining peers such as Barrick and Newmont, while still allowing upside participation in strong gold-price environments.
    Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The fight, an utter farce, lasted 91 seconds, but Trump formed a lasting relationship with the ferocious Tyson.
    Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
  • There weren’t gaping holes or utter structural breakdowns.
    Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Of course, this is an extremely limited release and the price that commands a steep price.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Bunch says ridership stayed stable at a time when most cities saw steep drops.
    Joel Rose, NPR, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Using the black nubuck base seen on 1990s looks including the black/red Playoffs and the Aqua colorway, the early 2000s Chrome look deviated from the colorful accents seen on those styles.
    Riley Jones, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Occurring more than halfway through the performance, the scene is used to introduce the tragic backstory of the Phantom character at a freak show — a new narrative deviating from the original source material.
    Devon Ivie, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But critics say the memo builds on kernels of truth before veering into unscientific fringe theories.
    Stephanie Armour, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The Washington Post reported in August that the administration had veered away from the idea of an IVF coverage requirement for health insurers.
    Aria Bendix, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Voyeurism is making its way to handbags, via mesh, loose weaves and translucent fabrics, resulting in a see-through effect.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic and sauté, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes.
    Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The 3,479,500 copies in pure album sales for the first week set a record on Billboard’s sales chart, of course.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
  • When there's no thesis or insight, this series feels dangerously close to pure exploitation of a tragedy real people have endured.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The superintendent of Julian Union Elementary School District is retiring at the end of the school year after more than a decade leading the tiny rural district in San Diego County’s mountainous east.
    Sam Schulz, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Sporty green notes of bergamot, geranium, and moss intensify the original, bringing to mind fresh water and mountainous woods.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sheer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheer. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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