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
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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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of shear
As a compromise, Coxon decided to shear said trousers above the knee, rather than dishing out on entirely new uniforms.
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Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 26 July 2024
The man, who has not been publicly identified, flipped his vehicle and sheared it on a utility pole, local news station WPXI reported.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2024
Lightly shear the plant a couple of times during the growing season to promote the heaviest flowering.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2024
Up to a foot of land movement per week has been recorded in recent months, fracturing the walls of homes and blowing off roofs, shearing underground pipes and opening massive fissures in the earth.
—Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shear 
Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 26 July 2024
The man, who has not been publicly identified, flipped his vehicle and sheared it on a utility pole, local news station WPXI reported.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2024
Lightly shear the plant a couple of times during the growing season to promote the heaviest flowering.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2024
Up to a foot of land movement per week has been recorded in recent months, fracturing the walls of homes and blowing off roofs, shearing underground pipes and opening massive fissures in the earth.
—Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shear
Verb
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Smith wagered his hair on it, making a bet with three cadets over the winner with the losing side having to shave their head.Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 14 Dec. 2024
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Buehler had shaved his head to help raise money for childhood cancer research through St. Baldrick’s Foundation.Jen Karmarkar, Orange County Register, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Charging documents obtained by KIRO, Fox 13 and the Kitsap Sun allege that the 23-year-old suspect called 911 and claimed his brother had slit his own throat.Liam Quinn, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024
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Tasteful slits on either side of this sweater allow for the piece to have natural movement, while loose sleeves provide an effortlessly cool finish to the neutral staple.Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2024
Verb
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As the weather cools, often in October, stop cutting blooms and let rose hips form.Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024
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Dylan cut his first album two months after Robert Shelton wrote about him in the New York Times.Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The accompanying dispenser easily slices through tape to create clean lines without fuss, and a high volume of positive shopper ratings have earned this tape an impressive 4.3-star rating.Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2024
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But once they're sliced, bacteria have a chance to multiply.Allison Aubrey, NPR, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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What's next: The incoming Trump administration is likely to push the country's federal workforce back into the office — largely as a way to trim headcount.Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 6 Dec. 2024
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Malcolm Washington and co-screenwriter Virgil Williams found a way to trim the play while keeping its spirit intact.Clayton Davis, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Tom Bastian, a spokesperson for the ACLU of Missouri, ripped the legislation as unconstitutional in a statement.KACEN BAYLESS THE KANSAS CITY STAR (TNS), arkansasonline.com, 14 Dec. 2024
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The average large studio spends over $100 million annually trying to protect its content, yet for $29 and a 5-minute YouTube video, anyone can rip and pirate virtually any platform.Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Josie made two solid, explosive passes at the convoy, but her bird could not avoid getting clipped by enemy fire.Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 8 Dec. 2024
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To maximize flowering, prune late blooming clematis hard in February by clipping vines back to the lowest set of flower buds.Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
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However, California's desire to decarbonize its electricity grid has at times clashed with the state's notoriously stringent regulations, with a number of experts calling for red tape to be slashed in order to hit Governor Newsom's targets.Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
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Indeed, the newsroom staff was slashed in half within just a few years.Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Shear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shear. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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