English adjective: sheer | |||
1. | sheer complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers | ||
Samples | Absolute freedom. An absolute dimwit. A downright lie. Out-and-out mayhem. An out-and-out lie. A rank outsider. Many right-down vices. Got the job through sheer persistence. Sheer stupidity. | ||
Synonyms | absolute, downright, out-and-out, rank, right-down | ||
Similar | complete | ||
Antonyms | incomplete, uncomplete | ||
2. | sheer not mixed with extraneous elements | ||
Samples | Plain water. Sheer wine. Not an unmixed blessing. | ||
Synonyms | plain, unmingled, unmixed | ||
Similar | pure | ||
Antonyms | impure | ||
3. | sheer very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front | ||
Samples | A bluff headland. Where the bold chalk cliffs of England rise. A sheer descent of rock. | ||
Synonyms | bluff, bold | ||
Similar | steep | ||
Antonyms | gradual | ||
4. | sheer so thin as to transmit light | ||
Samples | A hat with a diaphanous veil. Filmy wings of a moth. Gauzy clouds of dandelion down. Gossamer cobwebs. Sheer silk stockings. Transparent chiffon. Vaporous silks. | ||
Synonyms | cobwebby, diaphanous, filmy, gauze-like, gauzy, gossamer, see-through, transparent, vaporous, vapourous | ||
Similar | thin | ||
Antonyms | thick | ||
English adverb: sheer | |||
1. | sheer straight up or down without a break | ||
Synonyms | perpendicularly | ||
2. | sheer directly | ||
Samples | He fell sheer into the water. | ||
English verb: sheer | |||
1. | sheer (motion) turn sharply; change direction abruptly | ||
Samples | The car cut to the left at the intersection. The motorbike veered to the right. | ||
Synonyms | curve, cut, slew, slue, swerve, trend, veer | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Something is ----ing PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | turn | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | peel off, yaw | ||
2. | sheer (motion) cause to sheer | ||
Samples | She sheered her car around the obstacle. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | channelise, channelize, direct, guide, head, maneuver, manoeuver, manoeuvre, point, steer | ||