1
as in to shave
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 to slit
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 shear
With their large leaves, hollies look best when they are pruned rather than sheared.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024
Scientists predict that Triton might one day wander too close and end up becoming gravitationally sheared into fragments.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
Just in the last month, Nicola Peltz-Beckham (sporting a chop reminiscent of her mother-in-law's iconic Posh Spice chop), Selena Gomez, and Beyoncé have sheared up and joined the short hair club.
—Konstanze Popp, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2024
Begay is involved in every step of the process—from raising and shearing sheep to collecting materials to make dyes to dying the wool to weaving the tapestry.
—Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shear 
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024
Scientists predict that Triton might one day wander too close and end up becoming gravitationally sheared into fragments.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
Just in the last month, Nicola Peltz-Beckham (sporting a chop reminiscent of her mother-in-law's iconic Posh Spice chop), Selena Gomez, and Beyoncé have sheared up and joined the short hair club.
—Konstanze Popp, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2024
Begay is involved in every step of the process—from raising and shearing sheep to collecting materials to make dyes to dying the wool to weaving the tapestry.
—Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shear
Verb
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And while Clay may face a battle to expand its use cases within a larger organization, companies that start shaving several percentage points off of their operating expenses will be difficult to pull away from Clay, said Meritech’s Alex Kurland, who led the new funding round.—
Alex Konrad,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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Planners say it’s expected to shave 12 minutes off travel times for buses and commuters and five minutes for others.—
Adrian Rodriguez,
The Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Its striking foliage has holes and slits in it, sort of like slices of Swiss cheese does, hence the plant’s nickname.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Jan. 2025
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Sensing no use for them, Red Feather’s warriors slit their throats — except for the throat of the one with the steely gaze and defiant words to match: Abish.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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At my company, reducing commutes and office energy use has significantly cut our environmental impact.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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Each student will receive a collection of cut flower seeds for the Spring season.—
Joe Rassel,
Orlando Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Even when the Clippers’ 26-point lead in the third quarter was sliced to 15 by the end of the quarter and to 11 early in the fourth, Leonard sat on the bench.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2025
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Instead of stopping with the wall, Martin and his representatives said, his contractor kept slicing, also taking the top off that previously intact 46-foot length of the bluff next to it.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Just remember to trim your cat's nails to avoid unwanted scratches, Sung said.—
Claire Thornton,
USA TODAY,
31 Jan. 2025
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Tulsi Gabbard trimmed her confirmation hearing opening remarks, leaving out a line accusing the intelligence committee of leaking information to build up the Russia investigation against President Trump, Axios has learned.—
Stef W. Kight,
Axios,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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His logic for ripping Taylor Swift and Caitlin Clark for doing nothing more than watching a Chiefs game made no sense at all.—
Bob Raissman,
New York Daily News,
25 Jan. 2025
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In floor remarks Saturday morning, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer ripped into the Trump administration for the move, saying that the dismissals are a possible violation of federal law.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The president-elect also briefly reflected on the assassination attempt against him last summer in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman clipped his ear before law enforcement killed the shooter.—
Olivia Rinaldi,
CBS News,
19 Jan. 2025
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The end came when Procházka clipped Hill with a left and rocked him to the mat with a punishing right.—
Brian Martin,
Orange County Register,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Boeing executives have already disclosed plans to slash 17,000 jobs and cut costs everywhere from company travel to corporate events.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2025
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Trump had tapped billionaires Musk and Ramaswamy to head DOGE, a nongovernmental task force assigned to find ways to slash federal spending and make the federal government more efficient.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
24 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Shear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shear. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
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