1
as in shaved
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sliced
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
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 sheared
The strike on Saturday sheared the façade off several adjacent apartment blocks and shattered glass for blocks around.
—
Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
Footage from Israel's emergency service showed a large crater next to what appeared to be apartment buildings with outer walls sheared away.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
Footage from Israel's emergency service showed a large crater next to what appeared to be apartment buildings with outer walls sheared away.
—CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Abelias lose their natural, graceful appearance when pruned or sheared heavily.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
As the continents sheared and twisted unevenly, local forces squeezed together thin ribbons of crust and popped them up like geological meerkats, isolating and slicing them off.
—Evan Howell, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2026
It can be lightly sheared to maintain a tidy appearance.
—Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
The bedding is triple sheared, and as a result, pilling is very minor.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 21 Jan. 2026
Doctors soon found that the on-field hits had sheared a blood vessel in Bledsoe's chest, which was rapidly filling his body with blood.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
Footage from Israel's emergency service showed a large crater next to what appeared to be apartment buildings with outer walls sheared away.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
Footage from Israel's emergency service showed a large crater next to what appeared to be apartment buildings with outer walls sheared away.
—CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Abelias lose their natural, graceful appearance when pruned or sheared heavily.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
As the continents sheared and twisted unevenly, local forces squeezed together thin ribbons of crust and popped them up like geological meerkats, isolating and slicing them off.
—Evan Howell, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2026
It can be lightly sheared to maintain a tidy appearance.
—Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
The bedding is triple sheared, and as a result, pilling is very minor.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 21 Jan. 2026
Doctors soon found that the on-field hits had sheared a blood vessel in Bledsoe's chest, which was rapidly filling his body with blood.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sheared
Verb
-
Resurfacing and Sculpting treatment shaved years off of my skin’s appearance (and all of its New York City congestion) in a matter of 60 minutes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Due to severely matted fur, much of his coat had to be shaved.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The day when everything around her began to shake and the lumps that embraced her loosened their grip and the tool tossed her through the air, she was spared from being sliced in two by the metal edge.—
María Ospina,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
-
For an elevated take, head to the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel’s Le Club Bar for a dainty banh mi sliced into bite-sized pieces and served on the finest porcelain.—
Tamara Hinson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Medical experts say if a rattlesnake bites, keep the area still, at or below heart level, do not apply ice, do not cut the wound, and do not suck out the venom – and seek help immediately.—
Jasmine Viel,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The Aztecs were within nine points late in the first half against Michigan and had a 3 rattle out that would have cut it to six before getting their doors blown off 94-54, their most lopsided defeat of the 21st century.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The words could have been ripped from Davie’s final speech.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Thieves broke the windows of several cars in Lakeview and ripped out the airbags from the steering wheels.—
Shardaa Gray,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rowland, however, clipped a Columbus Aviators’ player in the back and flags flew just before Badger crossed the goal line.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2026
-
His Land Rover clipped another vehicle and went over.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
According to court records, Cox pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots at the individual who slashed him and others in the area, which resulted in a bystander being shot multiple times.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
-
As budgets and headcounts continue to get slashed, the culling is coming from the bottom, leaving assistants to support not just one, but sometimes two or three bosses.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some of the imagery seen by Ferreira’s character is genuine content culled from online, carefully trimmed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Just like that, what had been a 23-point halftime lead was trimmed to 13 entering the fourth.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Large pieces of timber pierced the cab of the victim's truck, as well as the trailer and cargo within the trailer, causing some hazardous material to spill onto the roadway, the sheriff's office said.—
April 3,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The couple’s 3-year-old son was grazed in the back by the bullet that pierced Kaori’s skull, police and witnesses said.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sheared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sheared. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
