What is another word for shear?

Common synonyms for shear include fleece.

What is the opposite of shear?

Antonyms of shear include combine, join, attach, mend, unite.

Synonyms for

Verb / ʃɪr / Another word for shear — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

To cut the wool off a sheep or other animal.

fleece clip cut shave trim crop snip prune pare hack chop slice dice carve whittle saw split cleave sever divide part

Formal

cut sever cleave rend

Informal

clip trim snip lop

Literary

part divide dissect

combine join attach mend unite fasten

adjective shearing

Usage note

As a verb, 'shear' often implies a forceful or complete separation. It can also refer to the act of cutting wool from a sheep.

The most popular quote I found with the word 'shear' is: 'The shearing of the wool is a ceremony that takes place in every sheep-shearing shed throughout the land.' - Harry Crews
Another quote with the word 'shear' is: 'The wool of a thousand sheep in good pasture at the least ought to yield fifty marks a year, the wool of two thousand one hundred marks, and so forth, counting by thousands.' - William Petty

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