Shear vs Sheer
Shear and sheer are two words that many people mix up due to being homophones (words that sound similar), but they are quite different. Shear can be used as a verb or as a noun, and it usually relates to cutting or removing hair and fleece. Sheer is most often used as an adjective and noun, although it can be used as a verb in very specific situations.
Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer.
Shear (verb)
- To cut something with a blade, usually shears (see noun definition).
Examples:
He is trying to shear the table in half with his sword.
Her shirt had been shorn when she accidentally cut it.
- To cut someone’s hair.
Examples:
The barber made a mistake when shearing his hair.
Please be careful with my ears when you shear my hair.
- To take the wool off a sheep, llama, or other animal with wool by using shears.
Examples:
Are llamas or sheep easier to shear?
She sheared the sheep and made the wool sweater by herself.
Note: There are a few more uses for shear as a verb, but they are rather specific to domains like physics, aviation, and mining.
Shear (noun)
- A tool, like scissors, used for shearing.
Examples:
The shepherd forgot his shears in his house.
Do you use shears or scissors for cutting hair?
- A type of machine used to cut sheet metal.
Examples:
It cost a lot of money to buy a new industrial shear for the business.
Shears can be dangerous, so please use them carefully.
Note: Like shear as a verb, there are some more uses for shear in noun form, but they are domain specific.
Sheer (adjective)
- When describing a fabric, nearly transparent.
Examples:
The celebrity wore a sheer dress to the awards show.
My curtains are sheer and let light in very well.
- Complete, utter, totally, etc.
Examples:
The politician’s speech was sheer foolishness.
Her sheer brilliance and grit helped her discover the cure for the disease.
- Emphasizes the total number of something or the extent of it.
Examples:
The sheer number of casualties alone was a tragedy.
The sheer bulk of the old computer surprised him.
Sheer (noun)
A type of fabric that is see-through or transparent.
Examples:
Why hasn’t anyone invented sheer jeans?
A sheer blanket wouldn’t be very warm.
Notes: noun form sheer can also be used for very specific nautical purposes. Sheer can also be used as an archaic adverb and verb, or it can be used as a verb for nautical purposes as well.
Main Points
- Shear’s definitions revolve around cutting something, cutting hair, or removing wool as a verb. As a noun, it is used for a scissors-like hair-cutting tool and a sheet metal cutting machine.
- Sheer as an adjective can describe a mostly transparent fabric, to describe something that is completely or utterly something, or to emphasize the number or extent of something. As a noun, it means a nearly transparent fabric.
- The words are only similar in pronunciation. Shear is specifically related to cutting or removing things while sheer is related to fabric or used for emphasis.