1
a
: unqualified, utter
sheer folly
sheer ignorance
c
: viewed or acting in dissociation from all else
in terms of sheer numbers
2
: marked by great and continuous steepness
3
: of very thin or transparent texture : diaphanous
sheerly
adverb
sheerness
noun
: a sheer fabric
also
: an article of such a fabric
1
: straight up or down without a break : perpendicularly
2
: in a complete manner : altogether
1
: a turn, deviation, or change in a course (as of a ship)
2
: the position of a ship riding to a single anchor and heading toward it
: the fore-and-aft curvature from bow to stern of a ship's deck as shown in side elevation
Synonyms
Examples of sheer in a Sentence
Adjective
a sheer drop to the sea
we had to get window shades because passersby could see right through our sheer curtains
Adverb
mountains rising sheer from the plains
Verb
the cruise ship sheered to the northwest, putting it safely out of the path of the hurricane
the car sheered to avoid hitting the dog
Recent Examples on the Web
Bankim Chandra, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
The sheer volume of socializing at this time of year also offers you ample opportunity to have some sort of romantic liaison under the mistletoe.
—Olivia Petter, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2024
Violet Goldstone, WWD, 3 Dec. 2024
Off the runways, the streets went sheer at many of the year’s red carpet events, from the 2024 Met Gala to the Grammy Awards.
—Irene Kim, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2024
Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The breastplate transitions to sheer under the bustline, with black, gold and silver streaks cascading down.
—Maggie Clancy, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
Liz McNeil, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024
Following the more fashion-forward design direction, there are also touches of on-trend sheer, alongside tidy tailoring, slimmer silhouettes and shorter hems.
—Booth Moore, WWD, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sheer 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
These challenges stem primarily from the sheer volume and variability of data required to maintain effective defenses.
—Adverb
The model also went sheer at the Etro’s Milan Fashion Week spring 2025 show in September.
—Verb
John Fabiano was documenting the working dogs of the country and visited a wool farm during sheering season.
—Noun
But soon enough, the headlines would also highlight her personal life, including four marriages and divorces — and her sheer will to survive.
—Dictionary Entries Near sheer
Cite this Entry
“Sheer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheer. Accessed 29 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
sheer
1 of 4 adjective1
: very thin or transparent
sheer stockings
2
a
: being such to the fullest degree : utter
sheer nonsense
b
: taken or acting apart from everything else
by sheer force
3
: very steep : being almost straight up and down
a sheer drop to the sea
sheerly
adverb
sheerness
noun
sheer
2 of 4 adverb1
: in a complete manner : altogether
2
: straight up or down with no break : perpendicularly
sheer
3 of 4 verb
: to swerve from a course
sheer
4 of 4 noun
: a turn or change in the course of a ship
Etymology
Adjective
from earlier sheer "shining," from Middle English sheer "freed from guilt," probably from an early Norse word skærr "pure"
Verb
perhaps an altered form of shear "to cut, cut off"
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share