Sheer Definition and Meaning
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Published on December 4, 2025
Sheer describes something that is extremely steep, thin to the point of transparency, or absolute in nature. e.g., She bought curtains made of sheer fabric to brighten the room.
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Sheer Definitions
Very thin or transparent.
She wore a blouse made of sheer silk.
Extremely steep or almost vertical.
The cliff was sheer, dropping straight down to the sea.
Perpendicular or nearly so.
The building's walls were sheer, making it look taller.
Complete and without restriction or qualification.
He won with sheer determination.
To deviate or veer off course.
The ship sheered off to avoid a collision.
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To strip or peel.
He sheered the skin off the fruit with a sharp knife.
To swerve or cause to swerve from a course.
A swerving or deviating course.
The upward curve or amount of upward curve of the longitudinal lines of a ship's hull as viewed from the side.
The position in which a ship at anchor is maintained in order to keep it clear of the anchor.
One that is sheer, such as a curtain.
Thin, fine, and translucent
Sheer curtains.
Sheer chiffon.
Completely such, without qualification or exception
Sheer stupidity.
Sheer happiness.
Free from admixture or adulterants; unmixed
Sheer alcohol.
Considered or operating apart from anything else
Got the job through sheer persistence.
Almost perpendicular; steep
Sheer rock cliffs. See Synonyms at steep1.
Almost perpendicularly.
Completely; altogether.
(textiles) Very thin or transparent.
Her light, sheer dress caught everyone’s attention.
(obsolete) Pure in composition; unmixed; unadulterated.
(by extension) Downright; complete; pure.
I think it is sheer genius to invent such a thing.
This poem is sheer nonsense.
Through technological wizardry and sheer audacity, Google has shown how we can transform the intellectual riches of our libraries....
Used to emphasize the amount or degree of something.
The army's sheer size made it impossible to resist.
Very steep; almost vertical or perpendicular.
It was a sheer drop of 180 feet.
(archaic) Clean; quite; at once.
A sheer curtain or fabric.
(nautical) The curve of the main deck or gunwale from bow to stern.
(nautical) An abrupt swerve from the course of a ship.
To swerve from a course.
A horse sheers at a bicycle.
(obsolete) To shear.
Bright; clear; pure; unmixed.
Thou sheer, immaculate, and silver fountain.
Very thin or transparent; - applied to fabrics; as, sheer muslin.
Being only what it seems to be; obvious; simple; mere; downright; as, sheer folly; sheer nonsense.
It is not a sheer advantage to have several strings to one's bow.
Stright up and down; vertical; prpendicular.
A sheer precipice of a thousand feet.
It was at leastNine roods of sheer ascent.
Clean; quite; at once.
To shear.
To decline or deviate from the line of the proper course; to turn aside; to swerve; as, a ship sheers from her course; a horse sheers at a bicycle.
The longitudinal upward curvature of the deck, gunwale, and lines of a vessel, as when viewed from the side.
A turn or change in a course.
Give the canoe a sheer and get nearer to the shore.
Shears See Shear.
Turn sharply; change direction abruptly;
The car cut to the left at the intersection
The motorbike veered to the right
Cause to sheer;
She sheered her car around the obstacle
Complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers;
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
Not mixed with extraneous elements;
Plain water
Sheer wine
Not an unmixed blessing
Very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front;
A bluff headland
Where the bold chalk cliffs of England rise
A sheer descent of rock
So thin as to transmit light;
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
Straight up or down without a break
Directly;
He fell sheer into the water
Nothing other than; unmitigated (used for emphasis).
It was sheer joy to see her smile.
To swerve or cause to swerve sharply.
The car sheered away at the last second.
Pure; unmixed.
The sheer beauty of the landscape overwhelmed them.
Sheer volume or size; vastness.
They were astounded by the sheer scale of the cathedral.
Sheer Snonyms
Transparent
Allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen.
The sheer curtains were nearly as transparent as glass.
Unadulterated
Not mixed or diluted with any different or extra elements; complete and absolute.
The honey was unadulterated, a sheer delight to taste.
Utter
Complete or absolute.
The performance was an utter success, comparable to sheer brilliance.
Absolute
Not qualified or diminished in any way; total.
His confidence in victory was absolute, a reflection of sheer will.
Pure
Free of any contamination, unalloyed.
His happiness was pure, much like sheer joy.
Stark
Severe or bare in appearance or outline.
The landscape was stark, characterized by its sheer cliffs.
Steep
Having a sharp incline.
The path was so steep that it seemed almost sheer.
Pristine
In its original condition; unspoiled.
The wilderness was pristine, a sheer expanse untouched by man.
Clear
Free from anything that obstructs or darkens; transparent.
The waters of the lake were crystal clear, akin to the sheerest glass.
Vertical
Being in a position or direction perpendicular to the plane of the horizon; upright.
The wall rose sheer and vertical from the water’s edge.
Sheer Idioms & Phrases
Sheer folly
Utter foolishness.
Climbing the mountain in such weather was sheer folly.
Sheer strength
Pure physical power.
He lifted the heavy box with sheer strength.
Sheer bliss
Pure and complete happiness.
Lying on the sunny beach felt like sheer bliss.
Sheer luck
Purely by chance, without any skill.
Finding the lost ring was sheer luck.
Sheer off
To turn away sharply; deviate.
The pilot had to sheer off to avoid the storm.
Sheer nonsense
Complete and utter nonsense.
What he says is sheer nonsense.
By sheer coincidence
Happening purely by chance.
They met by sheer coincidence at the cafe.
Sheer madness
Complete insanity.
Going into the haunted house was sheer madness.
Sheer nerve
Extreme audacity.
He had the sheer nerve to ask for a raise just after being late.
On sheer impulse
Spontaneously; without premeditation.
She bought the painting on sheer impulse.
Sheer Example Sentences
The mountain's sheer size made it an imposing sight.
His decision was motivated by sheer desperation.
The sheer cliff face is too dangerous to climb without proper equipment.
The sheer complexity of the project required careful planning.
They overcame the challenges by sheer force of will.
She laughed with sheer delight at the surprise.
Her gown was made of sheer fabric that flowed beautifully as she moved.
It was sheer madness to venture out in the storm.
They succeeded through sheer persistence.
The windows were covered with sheer curtains to allow natural light.
The sheer audacity of the plan caught everyone off guard.
The artist's skill was evident in the sheer beauty of the painting.
The view from the top was nothing short of sheer majesty.
The room was decorated with sheer elegance.
He avoided the collision by sheer luck.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called sheer?
"Sheer" comes from the Old English "scīr," originally meaning "bright, clear," and over time developed senses related to transparency and purity.
What is a stressed syllable in sheer?
The stressed syllable in "sheer" is the only syllable: sheer.
How is sheer used in a sentence?
Sheer is used as an adjective to describe something as very thin, steep, or absolute. e.g., The sheer curtains allowed the sunlight to permeate the room.
What part of speech is sheer?
Sheer is primarily an adjective.
What is the verb form of sheer?
The verb form of "sheer" is "sheer," used in nautical contexts meaning to swerve or turn sharply. e.g., The boat sheered away from the dock.
What is the first form of sheer?
The first form of "sheer" is "sheer."
What is another term for sheer?
Another term for "sheer" is "utter."
How many syllables are in sheer?
Sheer has one syllable.
How do we divide sheer into syllables?
Sheer is divided into syllables like this: sheer.
What is the root word of sheer?
The root word of "sheer" is from Old English "scīr," meaning "clear, bright."
Is sheer an adverb?
No, "sheer" is not an adverb.
What is the opposite of sheer?
The opposite of sheer, depending on the context, could be "opaque" for transparency or "gentle" for steepness.
Is sheer an abstract noun?
No, "sheer" is not an abstract noun; it is an adjective and sometimes a verb.
Which vowel is used before sheer?
Typically, no specific vowel is used before "sheer"; it depends on the context in sentences.
What is the pronunciation of sheer?
Sheer is pronounced as /ʃɪər/ in British English and /ʃɪr/ in American English.
What is the second form of sheer?
The second form of "sheer" is "sheered."
Is sheer a negative or positive word?
"Sheer" is neutral; it is neither inherently negative nor positive.
What is the third form of sheer?
The third form of "sheer" is "sheered."
Is sheer a noun or adjective?
Sheer is primarily an adjective but can also be used as a verb in certain contexts.
Is the word sheer imperative?
No, "sheer" is not typically used in an imperative form unless in the context of nautical commands.
Is the word “sheer” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Sheer" is neither a direct object nor an indirect object; it is used as an adjective or a verb.
Which preposition is used with sheer?
Prepositions like "of" (e.g., sheer size of) are commonly used with "sheer."
What is the singular form of sheer?
The singular form of "sheer" is "sheer."
What is the plural form of sheer?
The plural form of "sheer" is "sheers."
Is sheer a countable noun?
Sheer is not typically used as a noun; it is an adjective and sometimes a verb.
Is sheer a collective noun?
No, "sheer" is not a collective noun.
Is the sheer term a metaphor?
"Sheer" can be used metaphorically to emphasize characteristics such as steepness or transparency.
Which conjunction is used with sheer?
"Sheer" can be connected with conjunctions like "and" or "but" depending on sentence structure.
Is sheer a vowel or consonant?
The word "sheer" starts with a consonant.
Is the word sheer a Gerund?
No, "sheer" is not a gerund; it is an adjective and sometimes a verb.
Which determiner is used with sheer?
Determiners like "the," "a," or possessive pronouns can be used with "sheer" when it functions adjectivally.
Which article is used with sheer?
The definite article "the" or the indefinite "a" can be used with "sheer" depending on its use in the sentence.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
