adjective

sheer

adjective

Thin enough to see through.

"She wore a sheer scarf over her shoulders."

Complete or absolute, used for emphasis.

"It was sheer luck that we found a parking space."

"The view from the summit was sheer beauty."

Very steep, almost straight up and down.

"The climbers faced a sheer rock face for the final stretch."

How to Use Sheer

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither see-through and delicate (fabric), or used to mean "total, complete" for emphasis, or describing a very steep drop.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "shear" (to cut) — same sound, unrelated meaning.

Easily confused with

shear →

Common pairings

sheer curtains sheer luck sheer drop sheer determination

Word Forms

sheerer comparative, more sheer comparative, more sheer comparative, sheers plural, sheers plural, Sheers plural, sheerest superlative, most sheer superlative, most sheer superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She wore a _____ scarf over her shoulders.

Etymology

From Old English sċǣre, "pure, clear, shining" — related to an old word family meaning "bright" rather than to "shear."

Synonyms

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diaphanous filmy gauzy gossamer see-through

Antonyms

opaque

Related Words

distinct transparent shiny translucent opaque gossamer lucid obvious

Rhymes for sheer

beer deer peer leer veer seer heer queer steer sneer cheer Speer

See all rhymes for sheer →

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diaphanous filmy gauzy gossamer see-through opaque distinct transparent shiny translucent lucid obvious