sheer

¹ American  

[sheer] / ʃɪər /

adjective

sheerer, sheerest

1. transparently thin; diaphanous, as some fabrics.

   sheer silk.

   Antonyms:

   opaque

2. unmixed with anything else.

   We drilled a hundred feet through sheer rock.

   Synonyms:

   unadulterated, pure, simple, mere

3. unqualified; utter.

   sheer nonsense.

   Synonyms:

   downright, absolute

4. extending down or up very steeply; almost completely vertical.

   a sheer descent of rock.

   Synonyms:

   precipitous, abrupt

5. British Obsolete. bright; shining.

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adverb

1. clear; completely; clean.

   ran sheer into the thick of battle.

   Synonyms:

   entirely, totally

2. perpendicularly; vertically; down or up very steeply.

noun

1. a thin, diaphanous material, as chiffon or voile.

sheer ² American  

[sheer] / ʃɪər /

verb (used without object)

1. to deviate from a course, as a ship; swerve.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause to sheer.

2. Shipbuilding. to give sheer to (a hull).

noun

1. a deviation or divergence, as of a ship from its course; swerve.

2. Shipbuilding. the fore-and-aft upward curve of the hull of a vessel at the main deck or bulwarks.

3. Nautical. the position in which a ship at anchor is placed to keep it clear of the anchor.

sheer ¹ British  

/ ʃɪə /

adjective

1. perpendicular; very steep

   a sheer cliff

2. (of textiles) so fine as to be transparent

3. (prenominal) absolute; unmitigated

   sheer folly

4. obsolete bright or shining

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adverb

1. steeply or perpendicularly

2. completely or absolutely

noun

1. any transparent fabric used for making garments

sheer ² British  

/ ʃɪə /

verb

1. to deviate or cause to deviate from a course

2. (intr) to avoid an unpleasant person, thing, topic, etc

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noun

1. the upward sweep of the deck or bulwarks of a vessel

2. nautical the position of a vessel relative to its mooring

Other Word Forms

• sheerly adverb
• sheerness noun

Etymology

Origin of sheer¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English scere, shere, schere “free, clear, bright, thin”; probably from Old Norse skǣrr; change of sk- from s(c)h- perhaps by influence of the related Old English scīr ( English dialect shire “clear, pure, thin”); cognate with German schier, Old Norse skīr, Gothic skeirs “clear”

Origin of sheer²

First recorded in 1620–30; of uncertain origin; perhaps a special use of sheer ¹

Example Sentences

The sheer scale of space and what’s being attempted makes tuning in to NASA’s Artemis II External link mission worthwhile.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Though, he does say he can understand why some people might be turned off by the sheer excess of it.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

It’s unassuming at first due to its sheer simplicity.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

What’s notable about this trade is the sheer scale of these options orders.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 28, 2026

In places, the mountainside had crumbled, leaving behind sheer cliffs.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown

Related Words

• outright
• pure
• simple
• unadulterated
• unalloyed
• unmitigated