Sheer vs. Steep — What's the Difference?

Nothing other than; unmitigated (used for emphasis)

Having a sharp inclination; precipitous.

(especially of a cliff or wall) perpendicular or nearly so

At a rapid or precipitous rate

(of a fabric) very thin; diaphanous

Excessive; stiff

Perpendicularly

Ambitious; difficult

Completely; right

A precipitous slope.

A very fine or diaphanous fabric or article

The act or process of steeping.

A sudden deviation from a course, especially by a boat.

The state of being steeped.

The upward slope of a ship's lines towards the bow and stern.

A liquid, bath, or solution in which something is steeped.

(typically of a boat) swerve or change course quickly

To immerse in liquid for a period of time, as to cleanse, treat, or extract a given property from

To swerve or cause to swerve from a course.

To involve or preoccupy thoroughly; immerse

A swerving or deviating course.

To make thoroughly wet; saturate.

The upward curve or amount of upward curve of the longitudinal lines of a ship's hull as viewed from the side.

To undergo a soaking in liquid

The position in which a ship at anchor is maintained in order to keep it clear of the anchor.

Of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc. that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical.

One that is sheer, such as a curtain.

(informal) expensive

Thin, fine, and translucent

(obsolete) Difficult to access; not easy reached; lofty; elevated; high.

Completely such, without qualification or exception

(of the rake of a ship's mast, or a car's windshield) resulting in a mast or windshield angle that strongly diverges from the perpendicular

Free from admixture or adulterants; unmixed

The steep side of a mountain etc.; a slope or acclivity.

Considered or operating apart from anything else

A liquid used in a steeping process

Almost perpendicular; steep

A rennet bag.

Almost perpendicularly.

To soak or wet thoroughly.

Completely; altogether.

To imbue with something; to be deeply immersed in.

(textiles) Very thin or transparent.

To make tea (or other beverage) by placing leaves in hot water.

(obsolete) Pure in composition; unmixed; unadulterated.

Bright; glittering; fiery.

(by extension) Downright; complete; pure.

Making a large angle with the plane of the horizon; ascending or descending rapidly with respect to a horizontal line or a level; precipitous; as, a steep hill or mountain; a steep roof; a steep ascent; a steep declivity; a steep barometric gradient.

Used to emphasize the amount or degree of something.

Difficult of access; not easily reached; lofty; elevated; high.

Very steep; almost vertical or perpendicular.

Excessive; as, a steep price.

(archaic) Clean; quite; at once.

To soak in a liquid; to macerate; to extract the essence of by soaking; as, to soften seed by steeping it in water. Often used figuratively.

A sheer curtain or fabric.

To undergo the process of soaking in a liquid; as, the tea is steeping.

(nautical) The curve of the main deck or gunwale from bow to stern.

Something steeped, or used in steeping; a fertilizing liquid to hasten the germination of seeds.

(nautical) An abrupt swerve from the course of a ship.

A rennet bag.

To swerve from a course.

A precipitous place, hill, mountain, rock, or ascent; any elevated object sloping with a large angle to the plane of the horizon; a precipice.

(obsolete) To shear.

A steep place (as on a hill)

Bright; clear; pure; unmixed.

Engross (oneself) fully;

Very thin or transparent; - applied to fabrics; as, sheer muslin.

Let sit in a liquid to extract a flavor or to cleanse;

Being only what it seems to be; obvious; simple; mere; downright; as, sheer folly; sheer nonsense.

Having a sharp inclination;

Stright up and down; vertical; prpendicular.

Greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation;

Clean; quite; at once.

Of a slope; set at a high angle;

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.

Shears See Shear.

Turn sharply; change direction abruptly;

Cause to sheer;

Complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers;

Not mixed with extraneous elements;

Very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front;

So thin as to transmit light;

Straight up or down without a break

Directly;