1
as in shaves
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 slits
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shears
Verb
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Pro gaming mouse shaves off 24%, packing ultra-light speed and switches that keep up with endless gaming sessions without slowing you down.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025 -
Those varying responses often have an offsetting effect that shaves off the most extreme edges of the group’s volatility.—
Catherine Brock,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Fed cuts for the remainder of 2025.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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But Franc Fernandez, the designer of the dress that is today on display at the Park MGM in Las Vegas, had worked three long days to create it, draping butcher cuts on a mannequin torso.—
Steve Knopper,
Billboard,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nominate it as one of America's Top Workplaces But the downward revision of 911,000 jobs over that 12-month period slices those gains in half.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
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Pair slices with a hot cup of coffee or a cappuccino to enhance the coffee flavors, or enjoy them alongside vanilla ice cream for a contrast of temperatures and textures.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For messing up, Martha clips Gabriel’s wings, forcing him to live life as a human, with a new casual wardrobe to match and a taste for fast food.—
Michael Rechtshaffen,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
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The latter happens when a ball clips the net before dropping in play.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
3 Sep. 2019
Verb
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But Thing, who Isaac had sewn back onto his arm, regains his autonomy and rips Isaac’s heart out.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
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Roberts brings a jolt of invigorating fury to one of the movie’s strongest scenes, in which the mentor rips into her mentee in public on a campus square with a fully detailed character assassination.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Skip the pricey groomer visits and messy bathroom trims with this Labor Day deal.—
Jessie Quinn,
USA Today,
1 Sep. 2025
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The move trims the quarterback room down to four players, including Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Consistency builds trust and slashes audit drag.—
Jagbir Kaur,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Cherry picks up a knife and slashes Laura’s tires on the way out, for good measure.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the footage, Sally leans forward, flips her hair over her face, and snips the ends.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Shears.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shears. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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