sheer

¹

[ sheer ]

adjective

, sheer·er, sheer·est.

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.

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

[ sheer ]

verb (used without object)

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

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

/ 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

adverb

1. steeply or perpendicularly
2. completely or absolutely

noun

1. any transparent fabric used for making garments

sheer

²

/ ʃɪə /

verb

1. to deviate or cause to deviate from a course
2. intr to avoid an unpleasant person, thing, topic, etc

noun

1. the upward sweep of the deck or bulwarks of a vessel
2. nautical the position of a vessel relative to its mooring

Derived Forms

• ˈsheerness, noun
• ˈsheerly, adverb

Other Words From

• sheerly adverb
• sheerness noun

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheer¹

Old English scīr; related to Old Norse skīrr bright, Gothic skeirs clear, Middle High German schīr

Origin of sheer²

C17: perhaps variant of shear

Example Sentences

Choi In-shik, the secretary-general of a right-wing group organizing more rallies for next month, said it was a “sheer lie” for officials to blame the virus outbreak on the protests.

From Ozy

Still, the sheer number of plausible Democratic pickup opportunities is surprising — and favorable for the party — given that the conventional wisdom in 2019 was that Democrats might have trouble finding enough targets to take the Senate.

From FiveThirtyEight

On the one hand, the sheer number of uncertainties unique to 2020 indicate the possibility of a volatile election, but on the other hand, there are also a number of measures that signal lower uncertainty, like a very stable polling average.

From FiveThirtyEight

One other reason for zero-click search’s increased prevalence is the sheer number of resources and tools that Google has at its disposal.

From Search Engine Watch

Another nifty reconstruction video made by Colonia Ostiensis, also captures the sheer scale of this ancient harbor city, which possibly reached its peak population of around 50,000 by 2nd century AD, at the apical stage of the Roman Empire.

From Realm of History

Actors can inhabit the person through the sheer force of their assimilation.

From The Daily Beast

We still retain the 27 November habit, through sheer gluttony more than anything else.

From The Daily Beast

The Met is noteworthy not only for its house size, however, but for the sheer volume of its season.

From The Daily Beast

Even Godzilla, the ugliest star attraction of them all, is bigger than ever, both at the box office and in sheer monstrous height.

From The Daily Beast

The next 10 times after that, the sheer repetition made it funny again, like the famous Simpsons rake joke.

From The Daily Beast

But the sheer quantity of the inflated currency and false money forces prices higher still.

From Project Gutenberg

In sheer nervousness, Hilda also dropped to her knees on the hearthrug, and began to worry the fire with the poker.

From Project Gutenberg

There is no other way but fresh blood for it is sheer human nature to feel flat after an effort.

From Project Gutenberg

A fifth by the sheer hazard of a lucky "deal" acquires a fortune without work at all.

From Project Gutenberg

By one bold charge they must have crushed the defenders, if by sheer weight of numbers alone.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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