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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of shear
Scientists predict that Triton might one day wander too close and end up becoming gravitationally sheared into fragments.
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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
As a compromise, Coxon decided to shear said trousers above the knee, rather than dishing out on entirely new uniforms.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for shear 
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
As a compromise, Coxon decided to shear said trousers above the knee, rather than dishing out on entirely new uniforms.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for shear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shear
Verb
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The surgeon shaved down part of the bone to make space for the nerve.Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Dec. 2024
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The central bank had surprised the markets by shaving the major short and long term lending rates in July.Sonia Heng,Anniek Bao, CNBC, 20 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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Nordstrom announced plans last year to shutter its Canadian operations, closing all stores in the country and cutting 2,500 jobs.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
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This included cutting the corporate tax rate and increasing standard deductions for individuals and couples, many of whom previously would have itemized instead of taking the standard deduction.The Arizona Republic, The Arizona Republic, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But the laws of football physics tell us A&M’s resurgence will be felt long after the last piece of Vandy’s goalposts are recovered, sliced up and sold for $40.35 on eBay.David Whitley, The Tennessean, 22 Dec. 2024
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Others have one cooking scene so memorable that the film simply had to make the list: Annie baking a single cupcake in Bridesmaids, Paulie slicing garlic with a razor blade in Goodfellas, that final sequence in Phantom Thread.Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
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To keep your Frenchie's feet healthy and comfortable, it is recommended to trim their nails every 3 to 4 weeks.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
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Leaders are beginning to question the ROI of their software investments (all 300-plus of them), and this scrutiny will intensify as businesses look to trim expenses.Michael Zuercher, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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There was Novak Djokovic coming clean about his true identity as the actor Bert Critchley, practising ripping his shirt in front of a bathroom mirror and discussing his process of getting into character.Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
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Andy Roddick, the last American man to win a Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open in 2003, ripped the NCAA rule on social media.Adam Zagoria, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Incoming Falling Back Under North Korean Assault, A Ukrainian Brigade Turned A River Into A Natural Barrier FBI Warns Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail Users—Check 3 Things To Stop Attacks Fallacy #3: The owner can just clip coupons.Joshua Stein, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
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The next storm will clip far northwest Washington on Thursday night, with the third atmospheric river hitting the West Coast from the San Francisco Bay area northward through Washington on Sunday night into Monday.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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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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Zibanejad saw his ice time slashed against St. Louis, and Kakko watched from the press box.Peter Baugh, The Athletic, 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 30 Dec. 2024.
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